More than 300,000 Derbyshire residents have had their first Covid-19 vaccines.

The latest data up to February 21, published today (Feb 25) shows that more than one in three Derbyshire residents aged 16 and above have had their first Covid vaccine doses.

This ranks the county and city 14th in England.

The data also shows that Derbyshire has vaccinated 92.5 per cent of all residents aged 65 and above, ranking it 15th in England.

In total 301,637 Derbyshire residents have now been vaccinated against Covid by an army of GPs and health professionals across the county and city.

This is an increase of nearly 44,000 from the last week of data.

A total of 4,178 Derbyshire residents have now had their second Covid vaccine doses, due to having waited 12 weeks between jabs.

This figure will increase more rapidly through March as more people, who received their first jab in December, begin to receive their second.

Worryingly, and in line with fears from local health officials, a significantly low proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic residents are taking up the vaccine.

Out of the total jabs administered in Derby and Derbyshire so far, just 5.89 per cent were to BAME residents, despite the BAME population representing 14.45 per cent of the county and city as of the 2011 census.

The jabs which have been administered in the county so far have been to priority groups one to six.

These are: Residents in care homes and their carers; patients ages 80 or over and frontline health and social care workers; patients aged 75 and over; and patients aged 70 and over, residents aged 16-69 who are clinically extremely vulnerable; patients aged 65-69; patients aged 16-64 who have a specific underlying health conditions which leave them more at risk from Covid-19.

Last week, William Jones, chief operating officer at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust and the lead of the vaccination programme in the county and city, said that Derbyshire aims to vaccinate all those in groups five and six by mid-March.

These groups, patients aged 65-69 and patients aged 16-64 who have specific underlying health conditions which leave them more at risk from Covid-19, started receiving their vaccinations last Monday (Feb 15).

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, announced this week that he aims to have offered Covid-19 vaccines to all those in priority groups 5-9 by mid-April.

This includes all patients 50 and above as well as those with specific underlying health conditions

Mr Johnson also announced that he hopes to have offered Covid jabs to all adults by the end of July.

Joined-Up Care Derbyshire, which represents all health and social care organisations in the county and city, is urging all residents with a black, Asian and minority ethnic heritage to take up the vaccine when they are offered it.

It is also asking all patients aged 70 and above who have not been vaccinated to get in touch with their GP.

In addition, it is urging all those aged 65 and above, who are now eligible to be vaccinated, to make a booking when contacted.

It is also pushing for residents who are carers for the elderly or disabled to take up the vaccine and make themselves known if they have not already been contacted by contacting their GP or local authority – Derbyshire County Council or Derby City Council.

All residents contacted by their GP or the NHS national booking service are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible. Those contacted by the NHS national booking service can make an appointment online or on the phone