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More than one million people in the North are now fully vaccinated, the region’s Department of Health has said.<\/p>\nMore than one million people in the North are now fully vaccinated, the region’s Department of Health has said.<\/p>\n
Around 70 per cent of the adult population have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n
The milestone comes eight months after the first jab was administered in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Minister for Health Robin Swann described the vaccination program as an \u201coutstanding success\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt has helped us take significant strides towards the more normal life that we all want to see return.<\/p>\n
\u201cRolling out the vaccination program has required a huge amount of hard work and dedication, so to all involved please accept my sincere gratitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate the long hours you have worked to ensure that we could give the people of Northern Ireland protection from this virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor all those who have already come forward for vaccination, thank-you. You have helped play your part in getting us to where we are. You have helped to protect yourself, those around you and our health service.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ulster Unionist minister said there is a need to increase vaccine take-up rates in the coming days.<\/p>\n
The Delta variant is driving up daily cases of the virus, which has also led to an increase in the number of people admitted to hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can make a concerted effort to increase vaccine uptake in the next week or so, this can help make a decisive difference in terms of preventing serious illness and hospitalizations,\u201d Mr Swann added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur regional vaccination centers are closing for first doses in less than seven days so please if you\u2019re not vaccinated, make it your priority to get a first dose as soon as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
The North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said it was a life-saving vaccination program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many people alive here today because they have been vaccinated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis virus is not going away and increasingly the only way we all get back to doing more of the things we want to do is for more of the population to be vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia Donnelly, head of the Covid vaccination program in Northern Ireland, said: \u201cWe are very pleased with the success of the program but we do not take these milestone for granted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a lot of hard work and determination behind this program and we know we are not at the finish line yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cUptake in the older age groups has been exceptional but only 56% of our under-30s have come forward to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not want this age group to miss out. Time is running out in vaccination centers for first doses so if you have not already come forward, then please do so soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier this week we also announced that those young people who turn 18 on or before 31 October 2021 will be able to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re in this group then you can simply go to one of the regional vaccination centers, or if you prefer you will shortly be able to make an appointment using the online system.\u201d<\/p>\n
A further 1,264 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Two further deaths of patients who had previously tested positive for the virus have also been notified.<\/p>\n
In total, 2,204,177 vaccines have been administered.<\/p>\n