THE top four priority groups for the Covid-19 vaccine in Cheshire should be offered their first dose by Sunday (February 14).

That’s according to Clare Watson, an officer of the NHS body leading the county’s vaccine roll-out.

Ms Watson, who is Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It’s phenomenal progress. We are on track to deliver groups one to four by Sunday.

“Across the north west it’s over 1.5 million people [to be jabbed].”

She made her comments while providing an update to Cheshire West council’s Covid-19 Outbreak Board yesterday evening (February 10).

Groups one to four include care home residents and staff, all those aged over-70, frontline health and social care workers, and clinically extremely vulnerable residents.

At the meeting, council Chief Executive Andrew Lewis also gave an estimate on the amount of doses delivered in the area.

Mr Lewis said: “75,500 people have had their first dose of the vaccine since it started back in December. 

“That’s a 93 per cent take up rate for the over-75 age group. It is great to see that moving forward.

“We are now moving to the completion of the first four priority groups. We are on track to vaccinate all those by next week.

“It was a big step forward when we got final confirmation that we could open a mass vaccination centre at Chester Racecourse.”

Currently, Cheshire West’s infection rate is 210.5 cases per 100,000 people, with Cheshire East’s being 185.3.