South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne has praised the work of local clinicians and volunteers as latest data shows 200,000 people in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin have received a vaccine dose against Covid19.

Latest figures show the Ludlow Constituency is in the top fifth of English constituencies for vaccines delivered. This week vaccine appointments in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin will double, to help even more people stay safe from coronavirus.

Second doses of the Pfizer vaccine will begin for local residents in South East Shropshire who had their first dose at the Bridgnorth Medical Practice. Thanks to the rapid rollout of the vaccine, letters from the National Booking Service (NBS) are expected to go out this week to those residents in Cohort 8 who are 56yrs and over, for them to start booking appointments. By Thursday of last week some 69% of those in the 60-64 year age group and 92.5% of the clinically extremely vulnerable across all ages, have had their first dose in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

Mr Dunne revealed he has written to every GP practice in the constituency to thank clinicians and their staff for their superb work during the pandemic, balancing the ordinary needs of busy GP surgeries with the significant extra demands of the vaccination programme.

Mr Dunne said: “The fact that South Shropshire is now in the top fifth of all constituencies in England for the number of vaccines administered is testament to the incredible work of our local GPs, NHS staff, pharmacists and volunteers. I have written to every GP practice in South Shropshire to thank all of those involved, for their continued hard work, managing to balance the usual work routine of a busy GP surgery with the biggest national vaccination programme in the country’s history.

The continued success of the vaccine programme is a key part of the roadmap to recovery. So it is a great relief people in South Shropshire are now being protected from this dreadful virus at such a fast pace.”