ACROSS Dudley borough 95 per cent of people over 50 have now received their first Covid-19 vaccine - and health chiefs say, despite initial worries, there are enough doses for all those currently eligible to book a jab this month.

Latest figures for the vaccination programme indicate 95 per cent of people in the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group area have now received one vaccine to help protect them from coronavirus - a total of 121,734.

Not quite as many in the Sandwell and West Birmingham area have taken up the jab where the figure shows 92.7 per cent of people over 50 have been vaccinated - 98,857 people in total.

Across the Black Country and West Birmingham CCG area as a whole (which also includes Walsall and Wolverhampton) - 92 per cent of those over 50 have been jabbed.

CCG bosses say there are still a number of people in eligible groups who haven’t come forward and they would like to reiterate that there is a vaccine available for all those over 50 or those living with an underlying health condition.

A spokesman for Black Country and West Birmingham CCG said: "We initially anticipated fewer doses available in April for first dose, but we have had news that we will be getting more supply.

"We have now secured enough doses of the vaccine during April to ensure that all second doses and those eligible in cohorts 1-9 can get a vaccine."

Sally Roberts, senior responsible officer for the vaccine programme, urged anyone in cohorts 1-9 to get in touch if they have not yet accepted or been invited for a vaccine and she added: “We have now secured more doses and have a vaccine waiting for each and every person."

She urged people to call 119 or their GP to book an appointment and said: "We are committed to not leaving anyone who wants a vaccine behind. We also have a number of walk-in clinics for eligible patients and specially adapted clinic options to improve access further.”

The four separate CCGs - NHS Dudley CCG, NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG, NHS Walsall CCG and NHS Wolverhampton CCG - have now merged to become a single organisation - NHS Black Country and West Birmingham CCG.

The merger does not affect health or care services provided by NHS organisations or local councils, CCG bosses have stressed, but it has reduced the duplication of roles and governance that previously existed behind the scenes within the four organisations.