Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire's health boss says he supports a longer gap between the first and second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine due to the second jab only adding an extra 5-10% immunity.

Image source, Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Professor Derek Ward, director of public health for Lincolnshire County Council, said giving two people one dose was "far more effective" than giving one person two doses of the vaccine.

"The more people we vaccinate in the community, the more likely we are to drive down the underlying rate, and we’ll start to get vaccine herd immunity," he said.

"The difference between the protection you get from dose one to dose two is in the region of five to 10% tops. So you go from maybe 80 to 90% or 90 to 95% depending on the vaccine, as compared to two people going from zero to 80-90%."

In relation to any side effects of the vaccine, Professor Ward said: “If you do feel a little bit under the weather the following day, it’s probably because your body’s actually developing a very strong immune response, which is protecting even more.”

He also stressed the importance of getting the Covid vaccine: “It is the only thing that will protect you from Covid that we have from a medical perspective.

"Obviously, 'hands, face, space' is still vital, but it’s the only thing that works and it is tolerated extremely well, so very few side effects."

Grimsby Town sign midfielder Idris El Mizouni on loan from League One side Ipswich Town until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old is accused of killing Andrew McGuire during an incident in Lincoln in October.

Motorists in northern Lincolnshire are being warned to be on their guard following several reports of catalytic converters being stolen from cars.

Thefts have taken place in Scunthorpe, Brigg and Grimsby as well as in Goole in East Yorkshire in the past month, according to Humberside Police.

Insp Dave Stephenson said: "While all cars are potentially at risk, thieves are most likely to target hybrids – where the catalytic converter is used less and the metals are less likely to be damaged – or vehicles with a higher ground clearance, such as vans and SUVs.

"We’re investigating all the reports we have received and are following up a number of lines of inquiry.

"In the meantime, we want to help prevent further thefts from occurring, so please pass on our advice to anyone you think may be at risk and, if you see anyone acting suspiciously, please call us on our non-emergency 101 line."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nearly 90,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have now been administered in Lincolnshire, new NHS England figures show.

The weekly data released on Thursday shows a total of 87,400 jabs were given between 8 December and 24 January - that number's up by 37,767 in just the last week.

The data shows that of the doses given, 47,430 people under the age of 80 have received their first vaccination and another 1,182 have been given their second.

Some 37,220 receiving their first dose were aged over 80, with a further 1,568 receiving a second jab.

This means that 80% of all over-80s in the county have now received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

North and North East Lincolnshire are included in the Humber, Coast and Vale figures.

In total in that area, there have been 221,497 vaccines given, but more local detail is unavailable.

BBC Weather

Today will continue to be blustery with spells of sunshine, areas of cloud and the chance of a few scattered showers. Remaining mild with brisk Westerly winds.

Alistair Hackney, 21, groomed the girl online then committed sex offences against her, a court hears.

Amanda Walton gave Emma Brennan a fatal dose of heroin and cocaine at a house in Grimsby.

BBC Weather

There'll be some rain around in Lincolnshire this evening.

Here's the latest forecast:

The country's deputy chief medical officer has paid tribute to people working in Covid-19 vaccine centres in Lincolnshire.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, who is originally from Lincolnshire, says he's visited a number of centres in the county and has even been helping with the rollout of the jab.

Speaking the latest government coronavirus briefing, Mr Van-Tam said he'd been impressed by what he'd seen:

BBC Weather

Today, rain at first in the morning but this will move away later, it will remain rather cloudy. The odd shower cannot be ruled out. Milder in moderate south-westerly winds.

BBC Weather

Thickening cloud from the south-west will bring outbreaks of rain during the night, heavy at times.

Turning breezy with a moderate south-easterly wind:

Lincolnshire Police HQ will be lit up bright purple later to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Image source, Google

The international day of commemoration takes place today to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust.

It also pay tribute to others killed under Nazi persecution and in genocides around the world.

Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Lincolnshire's force HQ will be bathed in lights tonight as part of the worldwide event of remembrance, marking this year's theme of "the light in the darkness".

Ch Con Chris Haward said: "When you do see headquarters lit up like that, or you see pictures of it, please stop, think and remember and just think about what this still means to our Jewish communities and how we can support them going forward."

Some workers have contracted the virus while others are self-isolating, Boston Borough Council says.

BBC Weather

Largely dry for much of today but with areas of cloud. The best of any sunshine should occur in the afternoon. Light winds.

Barrow's home league game against Grimsby is postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

BBC Weather

There'll be some rain around in Lincolnshire this evening.

Here's the latest forecast:

Police have issued 10 Covid fines after reports of drivers racing in the snow and performing stunts in Boston.

Tens of thousands of jabs have been delivered to staff and residents in all 202 care homes in recent weeks.

All residents and staff at Lincolnshire care homes have now been given their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, it's been confirmed.

Health bosses said on Friday they hoped to meet the target in the next few days and have now officially confirmed they've achieved their goal.

Because of the government decision to delay the second dose from 21 days to 12 weeks, the second round of jabs is likely to be in April or May.