MORE than 8,200 vaccine appointments were missed in the last week across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

People are being urged to make sure they keep their Covid-19 jab appointments wherever possible after thousands were missed in the space of seven days.

A total of 8,296 appointments booked via the National Booking Service (NBS) were missed across the area in the last seven days – more than 1,100 a day.

It is feared that the figure is likely to be much higher as this does not include missed Covid-19 appointment slots at GP practices across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which record the data individually.

It comes as temas across the county are working tirelessly to ensure every adult is offered a booster jab by December 31.

This includes standing up walk-in clinics, delivering jabs via GP practices and outreach clinics, hospital hubs, pharmacies and mass vaccination centres.

Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and clinical lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “We know that eligible people are keen to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

"We continue to work hard to scale up capacity right across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight but particularly in the areas of greatest need, based on evidence, to help ensure our communities are protected against the virus.

“To ensure we can offer the vaccine to as many people as possible, it is really important than anyone with a booked appointment attends, or cancels or moves their slot if they no longer need it for any reason.”

Anyone eligible who has not yet taken up the offer of a first, second or booster dose is strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible to ensure they are as protected as possible from the virus.