Coronavirus latest: New vaccination centre opens in Luton today

Fully trained health staff will be administering the vaccine at The Leagrave Centre, Strangers Way, to patients invited from their GP surgeries.

The centre will be run by family doctors and their teams from Hatters Health and Oasis Primary Care Centres (PCN), as part of the roll out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.

It also means that all patients aged over 80 in Luton will now have access to the vaccines.

Other local vaccination sites include the Medici Medical Centre, Bushmead Medical Centre and Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

Members of the public should only attend a vaccination centre if they have received an invite from their GP and arrive at the time stated. People arriving too early will compromise social distancing and staff need to keep everyone safe while they wait.

The new vaccination centre has been carefully arranged to ensure there is plenty of room for social distancing when waiting, as well as a recovery area, where people will be monitored for 15 minutes after the vaccination.

Dr Sarah Whiteman, medical director of Beds, Luton and MK CCGs, said: “Delivery of the biggest ever NHS vaccination programme has been a huge undertaking so I am thrilled that we can now say we are administering vaccines to the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes footprint that we cover.

“I can appreciate that local people will be keen to get their jab as soon as possible, but we would ask that patients do not contact their practices at this time.

“GPs are working through their lists and making appointments according to the criteria provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”