NEARLY all Somerset residents aged 55 and over have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

According to figures released by NHS England for vaccinations up to March 14, 315,762 people in Somerset have been vaccinated so far.

And 193,112 of those were in Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset.

According to the NHS England data and population figures from the Office for National Statistics, 90 per cent of those aged 55 and over have been vaccinated in Mendip - the district with the highest percentage in Somerset.

But the figures are similar in other districts too.

In South Somerset, 88.5 per cent of those aged 55 and over have received their vaccine and in Somerset West and Taunton this figure is 87.3 per cent.

In Sedgemoor, 86.8 of those aged 55 and over have received their first jab.

All districts are doing well compared to other local authorities in the UK - however, most have vaccinated more than 70 per cent of over 55s.

Vaccine appointments for people in eligible groups, can be made by visiting the national booking service online - www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.