CORONAVIRUS vaccines will be available to people in Worcestershire "imminently", according to Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier.

A UK grandmother became the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer Covid-19 jab today (Tuesday) as part of a mass vaccination programme.

Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said it was the "best early birthday present".

She was given the injection at 6.31am - the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that are due to be dispensed in coming weeks. Up to four million more are expected by the end of the month.

The Shuttle understands that vaccines have not yet arrived in Worcestershire, however Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said they are expected to be delivered "imminently".

A spokesperson for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, which heads 83 GP practices in the area, said: "This is a rolling programme and more hospital sites will be named in the coming days, as well as local vaccine services delivered by primary care networks and pharmacies, and vaccination centres."

Hubs across the UK will prioritise vaccinations for over-80s and some health and care staff.

On Saturday, Wyre Forest Health Partnership announced that Kidderminster Medical Centre and Stourport Health Centre had been approved to deliver the vaccines once they arrive in the district.

A spokesman said: "Because of the nature of the vaccine and the logistics of getting it delivered, initially not all GP surgeries will deliver it from their buildings.

"We are pleased to say that two of our surgeries have been approved to deliver the vaccination from their buildings, for our Wyre Forest Health Partnership (WFHP) patients.

"We will be working with the other WFHP practices to give the vaccinations from Stourport Health Centre and Kidderminster Medical Centre."

The surgery group has said that when the vaccine is received, patients will be contacted in the priority order set by the government.

Separate arrangements will be made for housebound patients and residents in care homes to receive their vaccination.

Documents leaked last month stated Monday, December 14 as a potential start date for the vaccination programme.

Bromsgrove's Artrix theatre, which has been empty since April when the theatre was forced into insolvency, and St Peter's Church in Worcester were earmarked in the documents as potential mass coronavirus vaccination centres, however the CCG said it was unable to confirm the plans.