More than one million doses of the lifesaving coronavirus vaccine have been administered across Swindon, Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset.

As of Tuesday this week, the number of jabs given out in the combined CCG area stood at 1,020,056 – meaning around 71 per cent of the eligible population have received at least one dose.

Health and care leaders welcomed the milestone – but used the announcement to encourage people to book their first Covid-19 vaccine or come forward for their second.

Swindon Borough Council director of public health Steve Maddern, said: “It is really fantastic to see that over a million doses of the vaccine have been administered across Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

“We know that over 136,000 first doses and 95,000 second doses have been administered in Swindon, which goes a long way to supporting the protection of our communities from the virus.

“Vaccination, along with regular testing and the usual hands, face, space and fresh air messaging, is key to keeping case rates low across Swindon.

“In regard to the variants of concern, such as the Delta variant, we know they are responsive to vaccination but it is really important that people have both doses.”

Vaccines are now available to everybody over the age of 25 and are being given out at more than two dozen locations across the region including the Great Western Hospital, which is now listed on the national booking service.

BSW CCG director of nursing and quality Gill May said: “To provide more than one million vaccines in the space of just six months is quite unbelievable, and I’d like to thank all those involved for making today’s announcement possible.

“However, coronavirus is still very much with us and the news of rising cases in some parts of the country shows there is a very real need for all people, especially those in the younger age groups, particularly people aged between 30 and 39, to come forward to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

“All our vaccination sites are now listed on the national booking service, meaning people have the freedom to be vaccinated in a location convenient to them, such as at a site that is close to home or place of work or education.

“We have all come so far in our fight against coronavirus and, with the finishing line hopefully now in sight, this final push to get everybody vaccinated has never been more important.

”The last few weeks have seen a reshuffle of local vaccination venues with some GP-led sites taking a step back from the vaccine rollout, and other locations, such as community pharmacies, added to the fold.

“This planned move will allow some GP practices to revert their focus back to fully providing much-needed everyday care.

“As this is still an incredibly busy time within healthcare, people can support their local practice by thinking about whether the concern requires the attention of a GP, or a whether self-care, a visit to a local pharmacist, or a combination of the two would be more appropriate.”

Everybody eligible for the vaccine should use the national booking service, which is available over the phone by calling 119 or online at www.nhs.uk, to secure their appointments, and not wait to be contacted by their GP practice.