2,000 Covid vaccines given in Leeds already - with 20,000 by end of 2020

A meeting of Leeds City Council’s Executive Board today also heard how around 20,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be administered across the district over the next fortnight.

The leader of the council added that the city would “probably” know by tomorrow morning whether it will be allowed to move to the more relaxed “tier 2” Covid-19 restrictions.

Covid-19 vaccinations began on Tuesday for elderly and vulnerable people invited by nearby surgeries to get the jab.

Coun Judith Blake told the meeting: “We are now in a position where we could only have hoped for a few months ago – where we are delivering vaccines across the city. I understand over 2,000 people already have received their first injection.

“Already when you are out and about, you hear people talking about people they know getting an invitation to be vaccinated.

“This vaccine is a difficult vaccine to look after, and it needs sensitive handling, so it makes the achievement extraordinary. We look forward to rapid escalation of the vaccine being delivered.

The council’s chief executive Tom Riordan added: “This has been arguably the biggest test for the council since the war. The reason we have done so well is the tremendous effort from people on the ground.

“I understand (the number of vaccinations) will be 3,000 by the end of today, and 20,000 by the end of the calendar year, of people having their first jab.

“It will be the biggest thing making the biggest difference.”

Coun Blake added that meetings had taken place today on the future of Leeds’s “tier 3” restrictions status. adding the council had “put a submission in” to Government late last week arguing the case for tier 2.

She said: “We feel, given the circumstances at the end of last week, that we were in a strong position to move forward. We share that intention with other leaders.

“We are expecting to hear the results of the deliberations in London probably tomorrow morning. In the past, we have waited for announcements to be made and they have been delayed, so nothing is absolutely set in stone.

“If we move tiers, there will be a great deal of work to continue to do.”