A GROUP of GP surgeries has urged Teessiders to have patience after second Covid jabs were postponed.

Health chiefs changed their stance on the time-scales for administering second doses of Covid vaccines last week in a bid to roll out initial jabs faster and to more vulnerable people.

Now the move has seen a major group of Middlesbrough practices push back second vaccines originally booked to take place next week.

The Greater Middlesbrough Primary Care Network (PCN) announced it had been told to postpone all second Covid vaccinations booked for January 12 to January 14.

Second doses will now be given nine to 12 weeks from their first jab for these patients.

The network added: “Please do not contact your surgery but bear with us as we follow NHS England instructions.

“We kindly ask you to not take frustrations out on our staff.”

More than 60,000 patients are on the combined list at the Greater Middlesbrough PCN.

Bluebell Medical Centre, Crossfell Health Centre, Newlands Medical Centre and Coulby Medical Practice are among the largest surgeries in the group.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that as many people on its priority list as possible should be offered the first jab.

Government chiefs say this will mean second doses of both vaccines will now be administered towards the end of the 12 week period.

Health leaders, GPs and councils were told of the changes in a letter from the NHS last week.

The UK’s four chief medical officers said prioritising the first doses of vaccine for as many people as possible on the priority list would help reduce mortality, severe disease and hospitalisations.

Meanwhile, the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine was rolled out at six NHS trusts around the country on Monday.

The jab doesn’t have to be kept at an ultra-low temperature making it easier to transport and store – with the hope it can be distributed and administered faster and in more locations than other vaccines.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the new jab hasn’t yet arrived at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust or South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.

However, the Government says “up to 100 more” hospital sites and 180 GP-led services are due to administer the new jabs in England this week – subject to final checks.