VACCINE supply in Cheshire is to be "throttled back" to allow other areas of the country to catch up on their roll-outs.

That's according to Labour Cheshire East Council leader Sam Corcoran, who revealed that over 90 per cent of those in the top four priority groups in the county have received their first jabs.

Cllr Corcoran said he hoped the supplies of vaccine would improve next month.

He told Cheshire East's full council meeting this week: "The vaccination programme, organised by NHS Cheshire CCG and local GPs, is going exceptionally well and over 90 per cent of those in the top four priority groups have been vaccinated.

"Many primary care networks have moved on to vaccinating those over 60. However, because the local vaccination programme has been done so well, it is understandable that the decision has been taken centrally to throttle back the supply of vaccines to Cheshire East.

"I am assured that the vaccine supply will improve by March."

Later he revealed a decision had been made by health chiefs "to allow other areas to catch up" with Cheshire's progress.

The latest data, released on Thursday (February 18) by NHS England on the programme's progress, show that in Cheshire, 117,387 residents aged 70-plus have had their first dose of a vaccine, out of a over-70 population of 119,773.

That represents a 98 per cent success rate.

The government has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that supply was "being distributed fairly".

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Vaccines are being distributed fairly across the UK to ensure the most vulnerable are immunised first and all GPs will continue to receive deliveries as planned.

"Parts of the country have made very significant progress and have vaccinated faster than average. We're putting more supply into areas that have more to do, with the NHS doing brilliantly to deliver the amount of supply we have."