THE first Covid-19 hospital vaccine hub in Worcestershire will open in Redditch next week.

The NHS will begin coronavirus vaccinations in Worcestershire next week after it was announced that the Alexandra Hospital will become the county's first hospital hub site.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Alexandra Hospital, will begin vaccination next week and will be in touch with those who will be receiving the vaccine first.

The order in which people will receive the vaccine is decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Patients aged over 80 will be prioritised, as well as care home staff and priority healthcare staff.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “After an extremely challenging year in our hospitals, it is welcome news that we can now proudly play our part in the largest vaccination programme this country has ever seen, for the benefit of health and care staff, patients and members of the public from across our county.

“A huge amount of hard work and planning has gone into getting us ready to start our local Covid vaccination programme.

"I would ask patients and the public to play their part in making the vaccination programme a success in Worcestershire.

"Over the coming days and weeks we will be inviting priority groups to receive their vaccines directly, and would ask that people wait for their invitation to come, rather than simply turning up at our hospital.

"It’s also really important that everyone continues to follow all the guidance on how to keep themselves and others safe from the risk of infection – including wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and observing scrupulous hand hygiene.”

Simon Trickett, chief executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG, added: “Colleagues across the NHS have done a brilliant job over the past 10 months, and they are stepping up yet again to lead the way in delivering this safe and effective vaccine.

"The public have an important part to play to help them do this and must still to follow the advice on ‘hands, face, space’ and adhere to other restrictions.”

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said on Twitter: "Fantastic news, the Alex will be the first hospital in Worcestershire to start Covid-19 vaccinations from next week.

"There's no need to contact the hospital directly, the NHS will be in touch with those who'll be receiving the vaccine first. Thank you to everyone involved."

GPs and other primary care staff in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are also getting ready to start delivering the jab. A small number of GP-led primary care networks (PCNs) will begin doing so in the coming weeks with more practices joining in on a phased basis throughout December and following months.

Wyre Forest Health Partnership sites at Kidderminster Medical Centre and Stourport Health Centre announced at the weekend that they had been approved to deliver the vaccines once they arrive.

Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients in community centres will subsequently stand up when further supplies of vaccine come on stream.