NEARLY 2,000 people received an extra dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Carlisle after a new booster jab target was announced by the Prime Minister, figures reveal.

On Sunday December, 12 Boris Johnson revealed that every eligible adult in England is to be offered a top-up injection by the end of December, a month earlier than previously planned.

More than 40% of adults across the UK have already had a booster vaccination, but Mr Johnson moved his target forward by a month.

Data from the UK coronavirus dashboard shows at least 1,856 people in Carlisle received a booster or third vaccine dose on December 13 and 14 – the latest available data.

That was up from 1,163 over the same two days last week.

It means 47,585 people in Carlisle had received a booster or third dose by December 14 – at least 48% of people aged 12 and over, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database.

Dr Emily Lawson, head of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme in England, said: “The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme is once again pulling out all the stops to protect the country from this cruel virus.

“NHS staff are working flat out to set up more sites and put on extra appointments.

“This is by far the most complex but critical phase of the biggest and most successful vaccination drive and so with latest data showing that the booster is our best hope of protecting people against the new variant."