More than 19,000 people have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine in Ryedale, new figures have revealed.

The NHS has released figures showing that in the period up to February 21, 19,046 people in the district were vaccinated.

The data shows that 4,000 people aged 80 and above have been given at least one vaccine dose along with 2,963 people between the ages of 75 and 79, 3,928 in the 70 to 74 age range and finally, the largest category, 8.155people under the age of 70.

The data include vaccinations administered in hospital hubs, local vaccination service sites such as GP practices and at vaccination centres.

The average infection rate in England is now 112 per 100,000 while in North Yorkshire as a whole it is 85.

MP Kevin Hollinrake said Thirsk and Malton has one of the highest take up of vaccines in the country. 34.7% of people in the constituency have already had the vaccine in one of the biggest vaccination programme in British history, putting the constituency in the top 50 in the country.

Nationally, the programme is averaging more than 2.5 million doses a week and the Prime Minister has set a target for the top nine priority groups to have been vaccinated by 15 April and every adult to have a vaccine by the end of July.

Mr Hollinrake said: “The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in our country’s history, has been a fantastic success story and showcases the very best of collaboration across the entire United Kingdom. I have received many letters from constituents both impressed by the efficiency of the programme and grateful that they have been protected. I have been to several GP sites and seen for myself how well it is working and I would like to thank all the NHS staff and volunteers involved. Every day we are a little bit closer to defeating this virus because of the hundreds of thousands of jabs going into people’s arms, giving us fresh hope as we look forward to getting our lives back to normal”.

Everyone in the top four priority groups has now been offered a vaccine, as invitations now go out those in priority groups 5 to 9. The latest figures now show that two thirds of those aged 65 to 69 have also now been vaccinated.

For locations of mobile testing facilities and to book a test visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test