A DOCTOR is urging patients to cancel their vaccine appointment if they cannot make it - after reports that more than 100 people failed to turn up for their jab at Weymouth Hospital on a single day.

Concerns were raised after a volunteer of the vaccine programme, who wanted to remain anonymous, said there were more than 100 no-shows at the hospital, in Melcombe Avenue,on Tuesday, December 28.

The volunteer said that there were also more than 80 no-shows on Christmas Eve.

Dr Andy Rutland, Weymouth GP and clinical lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Dorset, said: "We believe some people who have booked a vaccination may then attend a walk-in or have the jab elsewhere, and forget to cancel their original appointment.

"Additionally, some people may test positive for Covid-19 or start displaying symptoms, and so do not attend their vaccination slot. These are perfectly valid reasons.

"However, we would urge people to cancel their booked appointments, so that other people can have their slots.

"We have lots of staff and volunteers working hard to provide vaccinations, and want to make the best use of their time to jab as many people as we can, as quickly as possible, to protect us all from the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

"If you booked through the NHS website or 119, then follow the link provided to cancel the booking. If you booked through your GP surgery, please notify it of your cancellation. Have your NHS number to hand, if possible."

The appointments are being met by volunteers at the entrance of the car park to the right of the hospital's main entrance.

Across Dorset the Covid-19 vaccination programme has ramped up delivery to offer local people their booster jabs or their initial vaccinations if they haven’t yet had them.

So far more than 380,000 booster jabs have been delivered.

There are more than 30 sites delivering vaccinations in Dorset so people are encouraged to book an appointment or attend alternative walk-in sites at the earliest opportunity.

Residents can either wait for their GP practice to contact them or book via the national booking service (NBS) to get their jab or booster at a larger centre or pharmacy.