With all that happened in Ukraine, other issues are pushed out of our immediate focus. But across the country, considerable work is still being undertaken to tackle covid and to plan against future spikes of the virus.

This week, thousands of people across Shropshire will be invited to book their Spring covid booster vaccine, as bookings through the NHS vaccination programme open. Those eligible for the Spring booster include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over.

If you are within an eligible group, the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme will contact you when it is your turn to be vaccinated. The vaccination programme in Shropshire is being led by our local GP practices, which should help to reduce the distance people have to travel to access their booster jab. You will be given either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with any eligible young people aged between 12 and 18 being offered the Pfizer vaccine.

Case rates have been rising both in Shropshire and across the country, so I encourage everyone eligible to take up their vaccine offer as soon as possible.

I have spoken to local NHS leaders about the programme and state of covid cases and treatment in Shropshire. While the infection rates are currently high, the proportion of severe cases (requiring hospitalisation) fortunately is low, though the number of patients in hospital with covid is rising, I was told that most of whom are either unvaccinated, or have had only a single dose.

People who were unsure about getting a vaccine should not feel they have been left behind – and it is never too late to protect yourself and your community. The NHS continues to offer first, second, and third doses for those who are yet to come forward for one.

Research by UKHSA estimates since mid-December some 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses. So getting your booster really can make a big difference to protecting your health.

The removal of covid restrictions and a return to a sense of normality was an extremely welcome development after two years of limiting contacts and caution around spreading the virus. But currently rising case rates show we have to remain vigilant on covid, and take personal responsibility, such as getting vaccinated, to reduce the prospects of any return to government intervention in our daily lives in order to protect the public from covid.