VALE Hospital in Dursley has been named as one of Gloucestershire's community Covid-19 vaccination centres.

Immunisations will take place at the hospital, as the roll out of the vaccine to priority groups gets underway from mid-week.

GPs and community NHS teams are working closely together with community services to make this possible close to where people live.

Starting with people over 80, roll out of the vaccination programme will be expanded in the coming weeks and months to include other priority groups by age and people who are particularly vulnerable.

People are being asked to wait for their GP surgery to contact them about local arrangements and timings.

Dr Andy Seymour, Clinical Chair at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “GP practices and community NHS services will be supporting the public vaccination effort across their local areas and it’s been an incredible effort to have reached this point with such a short lead in time and so many other competing pressures.

"The NHS in Gloucestershire has adopted a really innovative model of vaccination, building on strong local networks and joined up care in communities.”

John Trevains, Director of Nursing, Therapies and Quality at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “Vaccinating our communities will be a huge undertaking, but it is vitally important if we are to overcome the immense challenges COVID-19 has placed us all under this year.

"We will be working tirelessly to roll the vaccine out across Gloucestershire using all available resources and are proud of our committed and adaptable colleagues for giving their all to this incredibly important initiative.”

Professor Steve Hams, Director of Quality and Chief Nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who is leading the overall vaccination programme delivery in Gloucestershire said: “Here at the Trust, we are one of 50 vaccination hubs across the country and our staff have done an outstanding job in getting us up and running so successfully.

"The county is now gearing up to deliver an extensive and innovative community led vaccination programme through local networks.

"We would like to thank local GPs and community NHS services for their fantastic and tireless efforts in support of this endeavour.”

"Not only will the vaccine save lives and reduce the pressure on NHS services, it also marks the start of our journey back to living our lives as we would wish, albeit having learnt some important lessons from the pandemic.”

Sarah Scott, Gloucestershire’s Director of Public Health said: “The roll out of the vaccine to the wider community is a significant step forwards but does not mean we can let our guards down.

"We must continue to follow the rules and not allow case numbers to climb.

"Colleagues across health and social care have been, and continue to be, central to beating COVID-19 and I want to thank them all for their monumental efforts this year.”

GP surgeries will contact people with information on clinics and how to book an appointment.

Based on local arrangements, clinics will be in GP surgeries, community centres or hospitals and confirmed ‘Wave 1’ locations, which are:

• Vale Community Hospital, Dursley

• Cheltenham East Fire Station

• North Cotswold Hospital, Moreton in Marsh

• The Devereux Centre, Tewkesbury

• Rosebank Surgery, Gloucester

Other venues in Stroud and Cirencester are likely to be confirmed later this week and are expected to start vaccinations very shortly, pending delivery of vaccine supplies.

Local people are asked not to turn up at a venue for their COVID-19 vaccination until they have received communication from their GP surgery confirming details.

If people are housebound and unable to travel to a centre for medical reasons, they will be contacted by a local healthcare worker.

GP surgeries will also be making arrangements to vaccinate care home residents.