PEOPLE'S health could be put at risk if people don't get jabbed for Covid this Christmas season.
That's the warning from public health bosses as the NHS makes a final push to deliver five million Covid vaccines within two years in a bid to keep our local communities safe.
Shoppers have been warned that being in a crowded shop means they will likely "bump into someone with Covid".
This week, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight vaccine programme delivered a total of 4.9 million vaccines within the community.
People are being urged to protect themselves and their loved ones this Christmas, and help the NHS reach its five million Covid vaccine target.
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The team is set to celebrate its two-year anniversary on December 8.
The first vaccine was delivered at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, by Chief Nurse Liz Rix, to 99-year-old Mr Tibbs.
On December 12, the Oakley Road vaccine hub in Millbrook will close its doors for good.
Dr Matt Nisbet is the clinical lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Covid vaccine programme.
He said: "We're about 100,000 vaccines off having given 5 million vaccines over the two years of the programme.
"I think Christmas is a bit of a time where a lot of us need help and the NHS is asking for people's help.
"The thing that people can do to help us is to come forward and take up the offer of the vaccine.
"It will help us get to the five million, which will be brilliant, and it will also help protect ourselves, our families, and all of the services that we rely on."
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Sharon Hackett, a shift leader at the Oakley Road vaccine centre described her team as "amazing and cohesive".
"Everybody just comes together, we all know our jobs and our roles, we just fit into it," she said.
"It's almost become like a family.
"It is sad that it's all coming to an end but primary care networks will be picking it up in the community.
"This means the service will be closer to where people live, we don't really need the big hubs anymore, we need to be back in the community."
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She added: "It's so important to get your first and second jab because you need to make sure you have that primary response.
"Covid is still around, it's going to stay around.
"If you haven't got any defence around it, it could become a significant infection to you.
"You may have no symptoms but a member of your family might get it and get it quite severely.
"It's about protecting yourself, your family, and the community you live in this Christmas."
John and Hillary Turner, a retired couple from Shirley, went to get booster jabs this week.
John received his fifth dose and Hillary received her fourth.
Hillary, 74, described the service as "excellent".
John, 80, said that the service was "as expected" adding that the staff are "pleasant and helpful".
John added that getting a vaccine is "common sense".
"We've got to live with this illness," he said.
"The more support we get from the medical side of the business the better really.
"It will make life simpler and more straightforward.
"You don't have to worry about it and you're not passing on nasty things to everybody else."
This Christmas, Southampton residents are being urged to keep safe and take extra care in the winter months.
This includes opening a window when possible if gathering inside, wearing a mask in busy areas, and using hand sanitiser regularly.
University Hospital Southampton was caring for 66 coronavirus patients as of Wednesday, figures show.
However, the director of public health for Southampton, Dr Debbie Chase, said that Covid cases in the area are starting to drop.
She said: "About one in 40 people at the moment have Covid in the south east region.
"If you're going into a crowded shop in Southampton, the chances are you're going to bump into someone who has got Covid at the moment.
"It's really important that people do everything they can to protect themselves against Covid as we go into the winter."
She added: "The best way to protect yourself this winter is to get vaccinated."
Dr Chase says that flu cases are climbing in the area.
She is urging everyone to get vaccinated and take precautions.
Residents will be able to get their vaccines at their GP surgery or local pharmacy following the closure of the major hubs.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 vaccination helpline can help with finding the nearest clinics, getting information in other languages such as Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Bengali and more, as well as sharing the latest information on eligibility.
To contact the helpline, call 0300 561 0018 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm at weekends.
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