Vaccination centre opens in Mansfield
A new Covid-19 vaccination centre has opened in Mansfield today after NHS data revealed the area has some of the lowest numbers of eligible people receiving their jab. The Mansfield site is Nottinghamshire's largest vaccine centre.
Health professionals are getting ready to vaccinate up to two and a half thousand people a day at a former warehouse in the town. Volunteers including GPs, pharmacists and nurses will administer the injections initially to the over eighties.
More than 30 new NHS Vaccine Centres will start delivering life-saving Covid jabs this week as the health service continues to accelerate the biggest immunisation programme in its history
The first seven large-scale centres, which can jab thousands of people a week, opened two weeks ago with another 10 opening last week. The latest openings mean there will be a network of almost 50 across the country.
People aged 75 and over are being invited to book a vaccination at the centres or one of more than 70 pharmacy services now operating across the country.
If they cannot or do not want to travel to a Vaccination Centre people can wait to be jabbed by a local GP service or hospital hub.
There are more than 1,000 GP services and more than 250 hospital sites now offering vaccinations in England.
The new Vaccination Centres will kick off by jabbing mainly health and social care staff today (Monday) before opening their doors to more patients on Tuesday.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Through the vaccines delivery plan we have made outstanding progress in vaccinating our NHS and care staff and the most vulnerable people in society.
“My utmost thanks go out to everyone in the NHS and all our volunteers who have worked round the clock to make this happen.
“We must not drop our guard. While the vaccine can prevent severe disease, we do not know if it stops you from passing on the virus to others, and it takes time to develop immunity after a jab, so for now everyone must continue to stay at home to help bring down infections and protect the NHS.”
Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “I am delighted we are opening even more places for people to get a jab – as of this week there will be almost 50 vaccination centres, more than 250 hospitals hubs and over 1,000 local vaccination service sites, run by GPs and pharmacies right across the country.
“This will enable us to vaccinate as many people as possible in the weeks and months to come and I encourage anyone who has been invited for a free vaccine to come forward and get a jab.
“Remember, with high levels of infection everyone must continue to follow the rules, stay at home and maintain social distancing – even if you have had the vaccine.”
Other sites opening in our region from Monday 25 January are:
FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
Spectrum Community Health CIC, Wakefield