Vaccine will be given at ‘large venues and GP surgeries’ in Bassetlaw, says MP

The MP said people in the district eligible for the jab ‘shouldn’t worry’ after news emerged Bassetlaw Hospital had not been included in a list of 50 NHS trusts giving out the vaccine this week.

On Sunday it was announced that 50 ‘hospital hubs’ would start vaccinating people aged over 80 who were outpatients as well as those being discharged after a hospital stay.

However Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust were not included in the list.

NHS England say those who qualify for the first round of vaccinations will be contacted to attend a hub for the long-awaited vaccine.

Brendan, speaking today (Wednesday), said hospital hubs were “just one of the ways’ the vaccine will be delivered.

He said: “Two other ways will be through vaccine centres at venues such as stadiums and arenas and larger GP practices.

“I’ve been reassured that people will be able to get the vaccine locally and everyone entitled to the jab won’t have to wait longer, regardless of where they live.”

Vaccinations began on Tuesday - with 90-year-old Coventry grandmother Margaret Keenan being the first person in the world to receive it.

The Government has secured 800,000 doses to begin with - with enough doses to vaccinate 20 million people on order however the majority are not expected to become available until next year.

Hospitals chosen as ‘hospital hubs’ for the vaccination were identified as such because they met “very specific storage and security measures”, say NHS England.

Rollout of the jab has been complicated as it has to be stored at -70C and it comes in packs of 975 doses which cannot yet be split into smaller batches.

Bassetlaw MP Brendan added that, although he was confident the immunisation would be available locally, “exact time frames” were still not available as to when the vaccine centres would be set up.

A spokesperson for NHS England told Worksop Guardian: “GPs and other primary care staff are also being put on standby to start delivering the jab.

"A small number of GP-led primary care networks will begin doing so during the following week (week beginning December 14).”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.