COVID-19: Patients to receive coronavirus jab at GP surgeries across England

Patients will start receiving COVID-19 vaccines at GP surgeries today.

Vaccination centres run by local doctors in more than 100 locations across England will have the jab delivered to them, with some opening their clinics this afternoon.

This is the latest phase of the UK's vaccine rollout programme, and the majority will begin providing vaccination services to their local community from Tuesday, the NHS said.

NHS staff including nurses and pharmacists will work alongside GPs to inoculate patients and the vaccination centres will operate from existing doctors' surgeries or community hubs.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS director of primary care, described the moment as "emotional" and "overwhelming".

She said: "As a GP I am proud to be part of this huge national effort to protect our patients against the virus and I would urge the public to come forward when they are called up for the vaccine."

Every part of the country will be covered by a vaccination centre.

Patients in priority groups are being contacted first, including the over-80s and care home workers.

Later this week, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will finally be offered to residents in care homes, after practical difficulties with distribution.

The community-based clinics have been set up following the launch of vaccinations in hospitals last week.

Margaret Keenan, 90, made history when she become the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer jab outside a trial.

There are significant logistical challenges with the Pfizer vaccine which has to be stored at ultra-low temperatures.

But Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said general practice had an "excellent track record" when it comes to delivering vaccines, including the annual flu jabs.

"We want to use this experience to help protect people from COVID-19 and start getting life back to normal again," he said.

The vaccination clinics have been designed to keep patients and staff as safe as possible.

More GP practices and community pharmacies will also join the vaccine programme in the new year.

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Dr Richard Vautrey, chair of the BMA's general practitioners committee, said: "This will be a major undertaking and now hundreds of GP practices working together in locally based practice groups will ensure that this vital vaccination campaign is carried out as swiftly as possible, providing protection to some of our most vulnerable patients, with safety and wellbeing at the heart of their work."

It is hoped other vaccines will come on stream in the coming weeks, including the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.