Manchester has reached a huge milestone in the fight against coronavirus.
This week the one millionth jab was expected to be administered in the city, health bosses have revealed.
It comes after a exhaustive 12 month vaccine roll-out which has been described 'one of the largest peacetime mobilisations of people power ever seen'.
Thousands of volunteers have joined together with NHS staff at dozens of vaccine centres across the city to protect Mancunians against covid.
David Regan, Manchester’s Director of Public Health said: "The vaccination programme has been the biggest public health initiative we’ve ever seen in Manchester, touching on virtually every aspect of the city’s healthcare network.
"I'm incredibly proud to have played a part in this and I know that thousands of lives have been saved as a result of the skill and resolve of our clinicians, frontline staff and volunteers.
"We are not through this yet and as ever our message remains get your first and second vaccinations, get your booster when offered and take all the steps necessary to keep you and your family safe."
Manchester council leader Bev Craig said: "To reach such a significant milestone is staggering and testament to the incredible dedication of everyone connected to the vaccination effort.
"This has not been an easy two years for any of us and for so many, the vaccine offered us a way back to normality.
"We are still learning what the future will look like, but I know it would be far worse were it not for the superheroes we have working among us."
According to the latest government figures 67.1 per cent of people in Manchester have received their first jab, 59.8 per cent are double jabbed, while 37.9 per cent have received their booster.
But the figures vary greatly from area to area.
In Hulme and around the universities, for example, around half of all over 12s still haven't received their first jab.
But council and health bosses say huge efforts are being made to encourage the unvaccinated to get jabbed, including measures such as the 'JabCab' free taxi rides to vaccination centres for people without their own transport.
A council spokesperson said: "Additional work is also still being carried out so that the multi-cultural population of Manchester is not missed out of the vaccination programme.
"Work in our communities has continued to ensure that people living in Manchester have the information at their disposal to make an informed choice about getting the vaccination, as well as additional resources being put into place to make sure people from all walks of life have fair and equal access to the vaccine."
How a family of volunteer vaccinators gave more almost 6,000 jabs in just eight months
Between January and August last year one family of vaccine volunteers gave out almost 6,000 jabs.
The McGrogans - mum Jeanette, 62, a retired children’s nurse; Dad Liam, 70, a former GP in Blackley; son Andrew, 38, a locum GP; and daughter Fiona, 41, an advanced nursing practitioner - all volunteered at the Plant Hill Clinic in Blackley.
On some days all four of them would there performing dozens of jabs between them.
Liam, lead GP at the centre, said: "It made me so proud, that as a family we were all pulling in the same direction.
"It’s a fantastic centre and the atmosphere was so positive – with a real sense of that Dunkirk spirit as we tried to get as many people vaccinated as possible.
"For me, I also met a lot of my former patients, which reinforced the value of community and knowing your area and the people who live there.
"Jeanette, in particular, was super-fast at vaccinating – which is all down to her background in nursing."
Jeanette even earned a bit of a reputation as a 'vaccine-whisperer' – using a soothing bedside manner 'chat and distract' anyone nervous about injections.
She said: "It’s all about picking up cues, and spending time with people.
"When it comes to people with needle phobias, you need to keep them occupied and feeling safe. A lot of people then didn’t even notice the actual jab."
During their 8-month service the family vaccinated almost 6,000 people – all without ever catching Covid themselves.
Liam said: "I put that down to having the vaccines promptly, and the booster
"And, that’s something I feel very strongly about."
