A NEW mass vaccination site will open in the region tomorrow.
The Nightingale Hospital, near Sunderland, is one of 32 new vaccine sites set to open across the country this week, NHS England has said.
It will be the second mass vaccination centre in the North-East, with one already up and running at Newcastle’s Centre for Life, along with one at the park-and-ride at Askham Bar, York.
The Nightingale Hospital North-East at Washington, near Sunderland Picture: NORTH NEWS
Other sites across the country include the Black Country Living Museum, in Dudley -made famous as the set of hit TV series Peaky Blinders – Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Plymouth Argyle FC’s Home Park stadium and a former Ikea store in London.
In the Yorkshire and Humber region, one centre is housed at Sheffield Arena and one at Spectrum Community Health’s premises in Wakefield.
The new vaccination centres will be focusing on offering jabs to health and social care staff on Monday, before opening their doors to other priority patients on Tuesday.
NHS England said hundreds of thousands of letters have already been sent out to people over the age of 80 in the vicinity of the new sites inviting them to book a jab.
The new centres will mean there is a network of 49 mass vaccination sites across England.
There are also 70 pharmacies offering the jab, as well as more than 1,000 GP surgeries and 250 hospitals.
As of the end of the day on Friday, 5.9 million people had received their first dose of the vaccine across the UK.
Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “The whole of the NHS has mobilised to set about delivering this huge Covid-19 vaccination programme, and as more supply becomes available, we’re able to expand its reach and scale.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock appealed to the public to stick to social distancing measures as the vaccine roll out continues.
“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,” he said.
“So for now everyone must continue to stay at home to help bring down infections and protect the NHS.”
Those eligible for a vaccine will receive a letter and should not contact the health service, NHS England said.
You cannot get a vaccine just by turning up, and those given a time slot are asked not to arrive early to prevent queues and overcrowding.
For details and appointments visit nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel