First Leicestershire patients to get Covid vaccine tomorrow

The local health authorities announced last night that Leicester General Hospital would act as the hub in the city with people aged 80 and over, care home workers and NHS workers who are at higher risk set to have the injection first.

Plans are in place to operate a vaccination hub in Melton and, although no location has yet been confirmed, it is understood that it is likely to be either at Melton Sports Village or the borough council offices off Burton Street.

Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said invitations to have vaccinations had already started going out to people and that they should wait to hear rather than contacting healthcare centres.

Mrs Kearns posted on Twitter: “Vaccinations outside of hospitals will start being delivered by GPs the week after next in Leicestershire and Rutland.

“Once the vaccination programme is ready, we expect to also have local hubs in Oakham and Melton.”

She added: “Wider vaccination delivery will be either by local hubs in Oakham and Melton or by a GP practice in each Primary Care Network.

“The sites are already designated for the hubs and I expect we will follow this model, rather than within GP practices.”

The clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) of Leicestershire and Rutland are preparing to start the mass vaccination programme from this weekend as part of the national campaign to protect the UK population from coronavirus and hasten a return to life with fewer or no restrictions.

Commenting on tomorrow’s first coronavirus vaccinations in Leicester, Andy Williams, chief executive for the three local CCGs, said: “This is fantastic news as we know that many people throughout our communities will be pleased we can start delivering this ground-breaking programme.

“As per the national guidelines, priority groups people aged 80 and over as well as care home workers will be first to receive the jab, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.

“We have already begun inviting eligible people for the vaccine and all those vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.”

He urged people in Leicestershire and Rutland not to become complacent despite the emergence of the vaccine and said everyone still needed to observe social distancing, wash their hands and wear masks because it will take time for the jabs to be administered to the entire population.

The world’s first vaccination against Covid was only given on Tuesday - to a 90-year-old woman in Coventry - and it is being rolled out slowly across the UK.

“It’s important to appreciate it will take time to be rolled out across the local population and, in the meantime, it is essential that people do not become complacent and continue to follow any local restrictions as well as public health advice,” said Mr Williams.

“It is, to borrow a phrase, a marathon not a sprint.

“And the NHS will contact you when we need you to come forward for your vaccination.”

“We would like to thank all those involved for their hard work in getting us to this point.

“It has required detailed planning, managing the complexities and logistical challenges of this new vaccine, with its unique storage and transportation

requirements. Staff across our system are ready for this historic moment.”

The Leicester General Hospital vaccination hub is the first of what will be a range of sites across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, as further supplies of the vaccine become available.

People do not need to take any action at this stage.

The NHS will contact you if you are eligible for a vaccine and are being invited to attend an appointment.