"Don't panic" is the message from Lincolnshire health bosses over delays between COVID-19 vaccine doses, as it is thought efficacy of the jab could actually increase the longer the gap is.

This comes as people in Mablethorpe have said they are in limbo over when they will get their second coronavirus jabs, despite waiting over the recommended time of three months.

Public Health officials have said the dose gap is "purposeful" and vaccines are "working to protect individuals", despite having a "way to go" before COVID numbers come down to single figures.

Professor Derek Ward, Lincolnshire County Council's Director of Public Health, said: "I think there's some emerging evidence, and the theory and history of vaccines is if you wait 14 or 16 weeks between the two doses, it will not have a negative impact and it may well actually increase even further the efficacy of the doses.

"If you've got your second vaccine booked, and it's 12 weeks later, but something happens and you can't get it until week 13 or 14, don't panic.

"It will have no negative impact, and in fact it might actually improve your antibody response, but we will know more about that as the research develops." Professor Ward believes the gap of three months between first and second coronavirus jabs is "meaningful" and "purposeful" and it is "unequivocal in [his] professional opinion, the vaccine is working to protect individuals". He added: "It is also starting to drive down the overall prevalence of COVID in the population […but] we've still got a way to go before we can really get the figures down to ones and twos and threes like last summer, but I've got no doubts, we'll get there." On Thursday, the pace of COVID vaccinations in Lincolnshire actually ramped up since April 11, with a further 41,242 doses administered until April 18 – a 3.3% increase on the 39,915 jabs given the week before. Of those over the age of 45, a total of 101,573 have had their second dose and 16,629 under 45s have have received a second jab in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire health experts there is no sign so far of the India COVID-19 mutation in Lincolnshire, but outbreaks continue to occur in the county, health bosses said. First detected in India in October, the India coronavirus variant is currently under investigation to decide whether it is one of concern and more dangerous than the strains in the UK currently – the Kent, Brazil and South Africa variants. Health bosses added that there have been "some outbreaks" in Lincolnshire which they are following up on through close contacts, but these are not concerning. From LDRS' infection rate data, these outbreaks are likely to be in the West and East Lindsey districts. Overall the infection rates in Lincolnshire are falling (down to 32.8), but are above the England average of 24.8 infections per 100,000 people. Professor Derek Ward, also said: "We're not yet sure whether [the India variant is] one to worry overly about. The Kent variant is still the dominant strain in the UK and there's no indication that's changing. "I've not been notified that we've had any of that particular variant in Lincolnshire. We have had a few isolated other variants of concern or interest in Lincolnshire, but they're all associated with travel, so people coming back from other countries and bringing it with them." This has been picked up through PCR testing and has been actively managed by Public Health England. Professor Ward added: "We've got some outbreaks and we are following up close contacts. As ever, there's always outbreaks, I suspect we'll probably see some outbreaks in schools in the next week or two as well. "There certainly have been one or two this week which we ware following up on once I've got more details […] but nothing that's jumping out at me and causing me a lot of concern." On Wednesday, West and East Lindsey districts saw increases in their infection rates, while the other districts saw decreases, suggesting the small outbreaks have occurred in these two districts. South Kesteven has been maintaining a downward trend.