COVID-19 vaccinations will start next week in Worcestershire with the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch becoming the first hospital hub site in the county.
The order people will receive the vaccine is decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Patients aged over 80 will be prioritised, as well as care home staff and priority healthcare staff.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Alexandra Hospital, will begin vaccination next week and will be in touch with those who will be receiving the vaccine first.
Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “After an extremely challenging year in our hospitals, it is welcome news that we can now proudly play our part in the largest vaccination programme this country has ever seen, for the benefit of health and care staff, patients and members of the public from across our county.
“A huge amount of hard work and planning has gone into getting us ready to start our local Covid vaccination programme.”
He urged patients and the public to play their part in making Worcestershire’s vaccination programme a success.
“Over the coming days and weeks we will be inviting priority groups to receive their vaccines directly, and would ask that people wait for their invitation to come, rather than simply turning up at our hospital.
“It’s also really important that everyone continues to follow all the guidance on how to keep themselves and others safe from the risk of infection – including wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and observing scrupulous hand hygiene.”
Simon Trickett, Chief Executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG, added: “Colleagues across the NHS have done a brilliant job over the past 10 months, and they are stepping up yet again to lead the way in delivering this safe and effective vaccine.
“The public have an important part to play to help them do this and must still to follow the advice on ‘hands, face, space’ and adhere to other restrictions.”
GPs and other primary care staff in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are also getting ready to start delivering the jab.
A small number of GP-led primary care networks (PCNs) will begin doing so in the coming weeks with more practices joining in on a phased basis throughout December and following months.
Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients in community centres will subsequently stand up when further supplies of vaccine come on stream.
Among venues being mooted are Bromsgrove’s Artrix which has been empty since its administration at the start of the pandemic.
