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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Covid: Blackburn over-18s to get vaccine amid Indian variant spike | Covid: Blackburn over-18s to get vaccine amid Indian variant spike |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| People aged 38 and 39 are now being invited to receive vaccines across most of the UK | People aged 38 and 39 are now being invited to receive vaccines across most of the UK |
| People aged 18 and over in parts of Lancashire are to be offered Covid vaccines due to concerns about levels of the Indian variant of the virus. | People aged 18 and over in parts of Lancashire are to be offered Covid vaccines due to concerns about levels of the Indian variant of the virus. |
| The jabs are to be offered to people in and around Blackburn and Darwen. | The jabs are to be offered to people in and around Blackburn and Darwen. |
| Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said the measure would begin next week and go hand-in-hand with a programme of surge testing in the area. | |
| The development comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not rule out a return to local lockdowns in future. | The development comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not rule out a return to local lockdowns in future. |
| Surge vaccinations could be used to tackle Indian variant | Surge vaccinations could be used to tackle Indian variant |
| What is the India Covid variant? | |
| The two towns hit hardest in the pandemic | The two towns hit hardest in the pandemic |
| A council spokeswoman said a meeting was due to be held later before more details about the vaccination programme would be released. | A council spokeswoman said a meeting was due to be held later before more details about the vaccination programme would be released. |
| She said: "The council and NHS partners have secured extra doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that will be made available to anyone in Blackburn with Darwen aged over 18 from next week." | She said: "The council and NHS partners have secured extra doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that will be made available to anyone in Blackburn with Darwen aged over 18 from next week." |
| Blackburn has been one of the hardest-hit areas of England by Covid | Blackburn has been one of the hardest-hit areas of England by Covid |
| Speaking during a visit to a primary school earlier, Mr Johnson said: "There are a range of things that we could do. We want to make sure we grip it. | Speaking during a visit to a primary school earlier, Mr Johnson said: "There are a range of things that we could do. We want to make sure we grip it. |
| "Obviously there's surge testing, surge tracing, making sure that whenever you have a case, you check everybody who's been in contact with that person. | "Obviously there's surge testing, surge tracing, making sure that whenever you have a case, you check everybody who's been in contact with that person. |
| "But if we do have to do other things, then of course, I think the public would want us at this stage to rule nothing out." | "But if we do have to do other things, then of course, I think the public would want us at this stage to rule nothing out." |
| Analysis | |
| By Rob England, BBC England Data Unit | |
| The recent rise in cases in Blackburn has been confirmed to be linked "in part" to the new Indian variant. | The recent rise in cases in Blackburn has been confirmed to be linked "in part" to the new Indian variant. |
| It joins Bolton and Sefton in the North West as well as parts of London in seeing a spread of the newest variant of concern. | It joins Bolton and Sefton in the North West as well as parts of London in seeing a spread of the newest variant of concern. |
| In the latest weekly figures, the town recorded the third highest infection rate in England, with an 89% jump in cases compared to the previous week. | In the latest weekly figures, the town recorded the third highest infection rate in England, with an 89% jump in cases compared to the previous week. |
| As with other areas, mass testing is due to be deployed in hotspots, and there are early indications health teams will be stepping up the vaccination rollout. | As with other areas, mass testing is due to be deployed in hotspots, and there are early indications health teams will be stepping up the vaccination rollout. |
| However, it's worth noting that although the new variant is thought to spread as easily as previous ones, there's no evidence to suggest it causes more serious illness. | However, it's worth noting that although the new variant is thought to spread as easily as previous ones, there's no evidence to suggest it causes more serious illness. |
| Hospital admissions do not seem to have increased in line with cases, and the area hasn't seen a death with coronavirus for the past six weeks. | Hospital admissions do not seem to have increased in line with cases, and the area hasn't seen a death with coronavirus for the past six weeks. |
| Why do new variants of Covid-19 keep appearing? Laura Foster explains | Why do new variants of Covid-19 keep appearing? Laura Foster explains |
| Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |