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The number of people who have received the first dose of the vaccine passed 4m on Sunday 16th, as prime minister Boris Johnson pointed out. However, since peaking at well over 300,000 on 15 January, the daily count of first doses given has fallen back to almost 200,000.

Coronavirus statistical update: Vaccination campaign gathers pace in East Sussex

Vaccination, an important new phase in the battle against Covid-19, is under way in East Sussex, and in Hastings at a single dedicated site. Report by Nick Terdre, research and graphics by Russell Hall.

Since 8 December, when the first jab was given, the pace of vaccination has steadily mounted. By 16 January a total of 3,365,492 first shots of vaccine had been administered in England; this number also includes 426,102 who had received a second dose. Vaccination is also under way in the other UK countries.

In Hastings a dedicated vaccination centre has been set up at Kings Church/Hastings Centre, on The Ridge. This is serving all the town’s 11 GP surgeries, which are sending out the invites to the elderly patients on their books.

Vaccination hubs for frontline hospital staff are also operating at the Conquest and Eastbourne District General hospitals.

In Rother vaccinations for residents of the Bexhill area are being given at Sidley Medical Practice, while for rural Rother, including Battle and Rye, a centre has been set up at Etchingham Village Hall – that’s an 18-mile trip by road for Rye residents.

Especially for some elderly residents, getting to the vaccination centre may be problematic. ESCC has provided some help by suspending the rule that concessionary bus passes cannot be used before 9.30am. But the assistance of community support groups like Hastings Emergency Action Resilience Team (Heart) may also be required.

The government has called for first doses to be administered to the population in general before second doses, and has suggested holding back the latter until 12 weeks after the former. It is better to have a larger number with a good degree of immunity than a smaller number with a higher degree, it argues. It has even been claimed that a higher degree of immunisation is achieved through a longer period between doses.

Vaccinations race ahead

The daily vaccination rate is climbing fast, and last week passed 300,000. According to information released by the Scottish government and later withdrawn at the request of the Westminster government, the plan is to boost delivery of vaccines to enable 500,000 jabs a day, or around 3.5m a week.

That should enable the government to reach the 15 February target of immunising the 15m UK citizens in the top four priority groups: care home residents and carers; frontline health and social care workers and over 80s; over 75s; and over 70s. By giving priority to these groups, the government aims to reduce Covid mortality, of which they account for 88%.

On 17 January foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that the UK government aims to inoculate the further 17m people in the other five priority groups by early spring and the remaining 21m of the UK adult population by September.

On 14 January, Public Health England reported that more than one third of all 80s and over in England had been vaccinated once and 10% of them twice. In the South East 348,863 (including 34.8% of the 80+ population) had had one dose and 62,394 (including 9.2% of the 80+ population) two doses.

In London, which had the lowest number of vaccinations – 199,96 and 37,538 respectively, mayor Sadiq Khan complained the city was not getting its fair share of supplies. Although his claims were contested, It seems any problems will be remedied as the roll-out of supplies is boosted.

Immunisation from the first dose kicks in after about three weeks, so there will be a lag before the effects of vaccination show themselves in mortality rates, hospital statistics and new cases. Since 68,053 new cases were recorded on 8 January, the incidence has gradually fallen. On 17 January it was down to 38,598, and the seven-day average had fallen from 59,344 to 46,231.

Hastings, which reported a high of 216 new cases on 20 December, was down to 48 on 17 January while Rother, with a high of 130 reported on 1 January, recorded 40. In both areas the seven-day rate also fell, to 578.5 in Hastings and 431.9 in Rother on 13 January.

Hospitals at breaking point

UK Covid-19 hospital admissions remained high, at 4,179, on 17 January. In East Sussex, 36 Covid-19 admissions were recorded on 10 January, taking the total to 1,274 since the pandemic began. A total of 550 Covid-19 patients were discharged to 6 January and there were 400 confirmed Covid-19 hospital deaths to 16 January.

As the chart below shows, there has been a steep rise in the number of coronavirus patients in East Sussex hospitals, which now stands at over 400.

Of the Covid-19 patients admitted, 422 were still hospitalised on 12 January, including 23 on mechanical ventilation. While admissions may have peaked, the numbers in hospital are still rising, with 5.7 times the number of Covid-19 patients on 12 January compared to the 14 April first wave peak.

On 11 January the percentage of adult general and acute beds occupied by Covid patients in East Sussex hospitals went above 50% for the first time. On half of the first 12 days of 2021 the bed occupancy safety threshold of 92% recommended by NHS Improvement was breached across East Sussex hospitals. NHS Improvement says higher bed occupancy levels are unsafe and lower the performance of hospitals.

Hastings deaths pass 100

The number of deaths in Hastings with Covid-19 on the death certificate has passed 100. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 30 Covid-related deaths in week 1 (to 8 January, registered to 16 January), taking the total to 127. Covid-related deaths in week 1 accounted for 77% of all deaths – 39 – in the borough.

In Rother there were 30 Covid-19 deaths out of 51 deaths due to all causes, taking its epidemic total to 188. Eastbourne had 18 Covid deaths for a total of 130, Lewes 16 for a total of 167 and Wealden 28 for a total of 123.

 

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Posted 18:48 Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 In: Covid-19

4 Comments

  1. Peter Wiles

    I very much value these updates. Regarding Covid vaccinations, I wonder if it is possible to get more detailed information about how it is being organised in Hastings and what progress is being made?
    It would be very helpful to know what percentages in each of the target vulnerable groups has been vaccinated so far? How many vaccinations is the one centre carrying out per day / week? The Hastings Centre serves 11 GP surgeries. How is the distribution of jabs being organised between these surgeries? How is the allocation of slots being made?

    Comment by Peter Wiles — Monday, Jan 25, 2021 @ 15:52

  2. Susan

    As someone who is designated Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, aged 69, who lives alone and has no car what am I supposed to do ? I do not wish to put friends and neighbours at risk by asking for a lift. Many older residents have no transport, family or friends, Why are the GP practices not offering jabs for the more vulnerable in our community?

    Comment by Susan — Monday, Jan 25, 2021 @ 13:55

  3. Passing-By

    Thank you very much for keeping us up to date

    Comment by Passing-By — Sunday, Jan 24, 2021 @ 12:50

  4. Penny

    The designated site in Hastings is inaccessible to many unless they tear up previous rules re using public transport or taxi firms, thus putting drivers and others at risk.
    Whoever decided this did not take into consideration the layout of the town and its inhabitants.

    Comment by Penny — Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 @ 08:57

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