OVER 40s in Cornwall will now be able to receive their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine sooner than anticipated.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement to accelerate the vaccine programme after confirming on Monday that lockdown measures will remain in place until 19 July.

Two doses of the vaccine offers the greatest protection from becoming seriously unwell with COVID, says NHS Kernow.

The news comes alongside a worrying rise in confirmed coronavirus cases in Cornwall. Latest figures show that between June 10 and June 15 there were 467 positive cases recorded. This included 106 on June 13 – more on a single day than there were for the whole of May.

Dr Ruth Goldstein, from Cornwall Council’s public health department, said that the majority of cases recorded in Cornwall were the Delta variant and warned that because it is so transmittable the number of cases was expected to continue to rise.

She said that public health officials started to see a rise in cases around 10 days ago and said that it started to creep up among younger people aged 16 to 25.

“Initially it started around the Penryn campus (of the university) and it was easy to understand how that happened as this was the area in Cornwall where we have the highest density of young people.

“That combined with the half term break, where we have people from Cornwall going up country to see family and friends and we had visitors coming to Cornwall.

The Delta variant is estimated to be 60% more transmissible than other strains of the virus, and Dr Wigglesworth says that “hands, face, space” is not enough.

“Don’t give up on those whatever you do. But we also need to get everyone vaccinated,” she said.

Anyone older than 21 can book their first vaccine appointment by logging on to the national NHS booking service, or calling 119 free of charge.

You can book an appointment at Stithians Showground, near Truro; the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge; Home Park, Plymouth, or at the community pharmacies Camborne, Redruth, Newquay and Plymouth, as well as at some GP practices.

Some patients may also be contacted by their GP practice inviting them to attend a vaccination appointment.

Landscape gardener Chester Robinson, 40, who lives near Newquay, said: “The opportunity to have my second dose of the vaccine sooner means I will have the best protection against the virus, the sooner I can get back to doing all the things I love such as going to festivals and gigs. I would encourage all my friends to do the same.”

Iain Davidson, clinical lead for the vaccination centres, said: “The vaccination programme is our way out the of the pandemic. Offering the second dose of the vaccine to the over 40s at 8 weeks rather than 12 weeks will help us to edge ever closer towards normality, doing the things we enjoy, while protecting those we love.”

Mum-of-two Jodeigh Phelps, 42, had her first dose in April, and is now looking forward to booking her second.

She said: “It’s reassuring to know that my protection against COVID-19 will be increased sooner, particularly with the increase in variants of the disease. Whilst I’ve not been very adventurous since the easing of lockdown restrictions, I have felt much more comfortable visiting older relatives knowing that we have some protection against the disease. I will feel much more confident when I am fully vaccinated.”