People in Oldham who have not yet had a dose of the vaccine have been urged to take the opportunity to get it – as the town’s take up is lagging the national average.

Health chiefs have conceded that those who want the vaccine in the area have likely already had it.

The latest figures from Public Health England show that 145,119 people in the area have had their first dose which is 74.8 per cent of the adult population.

Of these 114,644 have had their second dose which is 59.1 per cent of those eligible.

However across the UK 88.1 per cent of adults have had their first dose and 69.1 per cent have had their second dose.

On Tuesday this week just 81 first doses were given out in Oldham, compared to 513 second doses.

A spokesperson for the NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group conceded that those who wanted the vaccine have likely had it, but urged those reluctant to take it to protect others.

They said: “The vaccine gives you the best protection against COVID-19 and is the most important thing you can do to help protect yourself and the community.

"Anyone who gets COVID-19 can become seriously ill or have long-term effects like long COVID and you need both doses of the vaccine to be fully protected.

“We understand at this stage those who want and feel they should be vaccinated have already done so, but it is important to remember that getting vaccinated can also protect people around you, because if you are protected, you are less likely to infect someone else.

"If you have been invited and haven’t had your vaccine yet, it’s not too late, you can book your two doses via the national booking service, by calling 119 or just attend one of the walk-in clinics at a time and date that suits you.

They went on to explain how the vaccine can be obtained.

They said: “We are working hard alongside Oldham Council colleagues to vaccinate as many Oldham residents as possible.

"The Oldham Cares Vaccination Service now has three vaccination sites across Oldham where residents can have their first and second dose of the vaccine if it’s been 8 weeks since their first dose, this is through a mixture of bookable appointments via the national booking service and walk-in clinics.

“The sites are at the Dinwoodie Centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital with bookable and walk-ins available and is open every day of the week or every Wednesday at the Millennium Centre and the European Islamic Centre every Sunday which is walk-in only."