EVERY single care home resident in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland will have received their first vaccine jab by the end of this week, it has been confirmed.

Simon Clarke, the Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, and Mary Lanigan, the leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, were able to confirm the news following a meeting with the Tees Valley CCG yesterday.

During the meeting, the CCG confirmed that all over 80s locally will have been offered the vaccine by the end of this week and confirmed that two extra hubs have applied for approval to be vaccination centres in rural East Cleveland.

Mr Clarke said: “The news that every single care home resident will have been vaccinated by the end of this week is hugely encouraging news for thousands of families across our region.

“Care home residents in particular are of course amongst the most vulnerable to Covid-19 and so it is vital that this group is first in line to receive their vaccinations as soon as possible.

“For many families worried about their loved ones living in care homes, this development will be enormously welcome.

“We can also confirm today that everybody over 80 should have received an offer of a vaccine by the end of this week. I am working with the CCG to clarify what happens if people are too sick to travel and I will update as soon as I have the information.

“The key message now is that we are getting there.

“I would just encourage everybody to stay the course, observe social distancing and follow the rules that keep us all safe and we’ll be on track towards putting an end to this terrible crisis.”

Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: “The progress that has been made with the rollout of vaccines so far has been impressive and reassuring.

“We are all grateful for the hard work of everybody who has been involved in this process and I am encouraged that it is being done with such professionalism and at such pace.

“It’s important now that we continue to work with the CCG to identify anybody who falls through the cracks and to make sure everybody who wants a vaccine gets one.

“We also look forward to updating our residents on new vaccination hubs as soon as any decision is made as to whether they have been approved.”