Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab

More than six in every ten of Northamptonshire s adult population have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Latest NHS figures revealed 367,147 were jabbed out of a target of around 580,000 by Sunday (April 25).

The news comes as a a Public Health England study of more than 57,000 people revealed a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine can slash transmission by up to half.

Experts found that people given a single dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines – and who became infected at least three weeks later – were between 38 per cent and 49 per cent less likely to pass the virus on to anyone they live with.

Other studies have already shown that both vaccines are highly effective at stopping people getting sick and ending up in hospital.

The vaccine rollout was this week extended to those aged 42 and older — or who will turn 42 by July 1 — as more supplies of a third approved vaccine, Moderna, are bought on stream.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at PHE, said: “Vaccines are vital in helping us return to a normal way of life and I encourage anyone who is offered a vaccine to take it as soon as possible.

“While these findings are very encouraging, even if you have been vaccinated, it is really important that you continue to act like you have the virus, practise good hand hygiene and follow social distancing guidance.”

The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are credited with having saved 10,400 lives among the UK's over-60s at the end of March.

Another 29,000 people received a second dose during the seven days to April 25, taking the total to 132,330.

In all, 499,477 jabs had been delivered since the rollout started in Northamptonshire on December 8.

Calls are going out from the NHS to those eligible offering appointments at the county's vaccination centre at Moulton Park or a number of local pharmacies, and also from local GPs.