Covid vaccinations start at Telford International Centre as hub confirmed for Church Stretton

The centre will kick off by jabbing health and social care staff from, before opening its doors to more patients on Thursday.

It is the latest vaccination centre to open as the roll-out continues in the county.

In the next few weeks, other sites due to open as vaccination centres are expected to include Ludlow Racecourse, the indoor bowling centre at Shrewsbury Sports Village and Whitchurch Civic Centre.

Further GP practices and pharmacies are also expected to be added to the list, in addition to the hubs and sites already delivering the jab.

Other centres giving the vaccinations include hospital hubs at both Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital near Oswestry.

People are being asked to be patient and wait until they are contacted by the NHS and are invited for an appointment.

Vaccination centre opens in Church Stretton

A vaccination hub will also be opened in Church Stretton this week to start the roll out for the over 80s.

GPs have confirmed that vaccination for the over 80s will begin on Thursday at the Health and Wellbeing Centre, part of the Mayfair Centre, on Easthope Road.

Residents registered with GPs in Ludlow, Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Clun and Bishop's Castle who are over 80 will receive letters or calls inviting them to attend vaccination hub. Clinics are expected run 12 hours a day, including through next weekend.

Andy Boddington, councillor for Ludlow North, said it was great news for the area.

"We are behind in vaccination in south west Shropshire," he said. "We hope to catch up in just a few days.

"Discussions are already underway about arranging transport to both the Mayfair Centre and also to Ludlow Racecourse which is expected to open at the beginning of February.

"We are all frustrated that vaccine delivery has been so slow. We are all getting angry at the excuses from MPs and the Clinical Commissioning Group about the complexity of logistics and our rurality. Leaders in rural areas should not be making excuses for poor delivery. They should not be using rurality as an excuse."

GPs from across south Shropshire will be working together at the Health & Wellbeing Centre (Mayfair) in Church Stretton. The team will have GPs, nurses, health care assistants and administrative staff from all the practices in Ludlow, Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Clun and Bishop's Castle.

Councillor Boddington added: "Please spare a thought for our health professionals. They will still be running their normal practice surgeries which are always very busy this time of the year.

"Please don’t ring your GP about your vaccination appointment. Switchboards have been overwhelmed. GPs are saying: “Don’t call us. We’ll call you.”

Patients will be contacted by the GP they are registered with by phone, text or letter.