Those who are eligible for a Covid vaccine are being urged to book one "ASAP" as fewer doses will be available next month.

So far, the vaccination programme has been proceeding at speed with more than 44,000 people in the Salisbury constituency having received at least one dose.

But from next month, supply will dip and those who haven't had their first jab may have to wait longer.

It comes after the Government confirmed that a batch of 1.7 million coronavirus doses have been delayed due to the need to be retested.

A further 5 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab arriving from India have also been delayed.

NHS staff locally are warning people who are eligible to be inoculated to book an appointment now, to avoid having to wait until May.

'Appointments filling fast'

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, which is overseeing the rollout of the vaccine at the City Hall large-scale site, says this is the time for eligible people to come forward.

"Appointments for first doses are still available for the rest of March, but they are filling up fast," a spokesperson said.

"So if you are in an eligible group, meaning you are 50 or over, have a health condition that puts you at greater risk, or are a health or social care worker, and you haven’t booked your first dose yet, the time to do so is right now.

"It’s quick and simple to book at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by phoning 119, and the vaccines are safe and effective."

Second doses reassurance

On March 18 health secretary Matt Hancock revealed that in April, supply will be "tighter" than this month but second doses which need to be delivered within 12 weeks of the first ones "cannot be delayed".

In Salisbury, those who already have an appointment for either their first or second injection are being reassured that those will go ahead.

A hospital spokesperson added: "If you already have an appointment over the coming weeks, whether for your first or second dose, this remains in place and it’s really important that you attend it as planned.

"The first dose of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine offer good levels of protection, but to get maximum protection everyone will need to get a second dose, so we are urging people to come back when they are contacted or if they have an appointment booked."

The rollout of second doses among health and social care staff and a number of patients at Salisbury District Hospital began earlier this week and is expected to continue.

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