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Lancaster Town Hall is now one of the new NHS Vaccination Centres

NHS England has today announced that 33 more essential NHS Vaccination Centres will be opening across the country as the COVID-19 vaccination drive continues to accelerate.

Amongst the new NHS Vaccination Centres are Bath Racecourse, Peterborough City Care Centre, Brighton Centre and Lancaster Town Hall. See the full list of the 33 new vaccination sites here

There is now a network of 50 large-scale centres, capable of jabbing thousands of people a week, in England.

This is good news for mobility retailers as it means thousands more of the sector’s key demographic – over-70s, over-80s and clinically extremely vulnerable people – will be able to receive vital COVID-19 vaccinations, enabling them to go outside more safely over the coming months.

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The NHS initially vaccinated the first two priority cohorts recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which are care home residents and staff, and those aged 80 and over and frontline health and care staff.

However, from 18th January 201, NHS England said that NHS Vaccination Centres with enough capacity to vaccinate the following two priority groups – over-70s and clinically extremely vulnerable people – could begin rolling out the jabs to these groups too. The UK Government says that those aged 80 or over will continue to be prioritised for vaccination.

People aged 70 and over are now being invited to book a vaccination at the centres or one of more than 70 pharmacy services now operating across the country.

Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi commented: “I am delighted by the outstanding progress we’re already making in the biggest vaccination programme in UK history.

“These 33 new major vaccine centres will bolster our existing network and enable the NHS to protect as many people as possible in the coming weeks. It is important everyone continues to follow the rules by staying at home and maintaining social distancing, even if you have had the vaccine, to save lives.”

If people cannot or do not want to travel to a Vaccination Centre, they can wait to be jabbed by a local GP service or hospital hub, NHS England states.

NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said: “The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in NHS history, is off to a strong start, with NHS staff working hard to accelerate delivery as more vaccines supplies come on stream, while caring for very large numbers of people who are seriously ill with Covid.

“I am enormously proud of their successful so far. We are determined to save as many lives as possible by vaccinating the most vulnerable as swiftly as we can along with those who care for them.”

The latest openings mean that vaccinations are now available from more than 1,300 NHS sites as part of the biggest immunisation drive in NHS history. NHS England says that appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are urged not to turn up early to avoid queues.

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Lancaster-Town-Hall.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Lancaster-Town-Hall-150x150.jpgSarah SarsbyNewsroomNHSSector NewsCOVID-19 vaccinations,COVID-19 vaccines,JCVI,Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI),mobility retailers,mobility sector,NHS England,NHS vaccination centresNHS England has today announced that 33 more essential NHS Vaccination Centres will be opening across the country as the COVID-19 vaccination drive continues to accelerate. Amongst the new NHS Vaccination Centres are Bath Racecourse, Peterborough City Care Centre, Brighton Centre and Lancaster Town Hall. See the full list of...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals