Andover's MP Kit Malthouse writes a monthly column for the Advertiser. Here's what he had to say this month:

This week has seen the end of lockdown measures thanks to our amazingly successful vaccination programme and the army of medics and volunteers that made it happen. Over nine in ten adults have had their first dose and two thirds have had both doses, and here in Andover we have seen thousands of people troop through The Lights to get their jabs.

While cases are undoubtedly higher than we’d like to see at the moment, we know that the vaccines have helped us build a ‘protective wall’ against the virus, and in large part broken the chain between cases, hospitalisations and deaths.

Now, after a long frustrating 18 months, we can finally do the things we once took for granted. We can see our friends and loved ones, return to our jobs and livelihoods, watch sport, attend weddings and funerals, and worship, without any limits imposed on us.

It is better in my view that we unlock now on the back of our vaccine programme, rather than in the autumn or winter when the virus will have the advantage of colder weather and we have more seasonal pressures on our NHS.

But we need to sustain our path to freedom and we all have a part to play. That means using our common sense and judgement to keep ourselves and each other safe – getting both our jabs when offered them, encouraging young people to do the same, wearing our masks in crowded spaces, keeping buildings ventilated if we can, and washing our hands regularly and properly.

I also hope we can sustain the spirit of community that saw us through the worst times. The people who stepped forward to help those shielding with supplies and friendship, the neighbours who looked out for each other, the organisations who supported us all, must not be forgotten. And everyone’s new hobby of going for a walk in beautiful North West Hampshire will no doubt be good for our mental health and wellbeing too.

It’s been a horrible time for everyone and many have faced hardship, disappointment and tragedy, but if we work together still, we can make sure this awful pandemic is consigned to history.