28 January 2021

Today the new large COVID-19 vaccination centre at Telford International Centre and five GP-led vaccination services across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have started delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to the public, offering further local support in the battle against coronavirus.

The first people booked in are those at the highest risk of COVID-19 – those over the age of 75 and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Telford International Centre is the first of the large sites opening across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin in the coming weeks to offer a convenient alternative to GP or hospital vaccination sites, to help even more local people.

Those who are eligible will live within 45 minutes’ drive from the Telford International Centre vaccination site and who have not already been vaccinated by their local GP-led vaccination service or hospital hub. Patients will receive letters from the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Service, explaining how they can book their appointment.

In addition to the Telford International Centre vaccination centre, the five new GP-led vaccination services opening today, will mean that all GP practices across the county are now covered by the roll out of the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin vaccination programme.

The five new local vaccination sites – delivered by groups of GPs called Primary Care Networks (PCNs) – are at:

  • Severn Fields Medical Practice delivered by GPs from the Shrewsbury PCN
  • Prees Medical Practice delivered by GPs from the North Shropshire PCN
  • Church Stretton Medical Practice delivered by from the GPs South West Shropshire PCN
  • Audley Court (veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress) delivered by GPs from the Newport and Central PCN
  • Wellington Medical Practice delivered by Wrekin from PCN

Teams across the six sites are ready to continue offering this vital protection over the coming weeks and months ahead as part of the planned vaccine programme.

People will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and are asked not to contact their GP or hospital to ask for the vaccine – you will be contacted by the NHS as soon as an appointment is available.

The timing of when people will get the vaccination depends on the priority group they are in, which is set by the national Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (an independent expert advisory committee).

Angie Wallace, COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Director for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, said: “As the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to gather pace, we are delighted that Telford International Centre will be used as large vaccination centre and that five further GP-led sites are now live for people in the county, increasing the availability of more local options.

“GPs, nurses, pharmacists, staff from across the NHS and local authorities, and volunteers have been working incredibly hard to get the sites these sites up and running as quickly as possible and I would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work and dedication in getting us to this point.

“We are asking the public to support the NHS by not contacting your GP or hospital about your vaccination, we will invite you when it is your time.”

In Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, further vaccination services will go live over the coming weeks. As soon as these are ready and available, they will appear on the national NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Service.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, including how to get involved, visit: https://www.sath.nhs.uk/covid19/public/#vaccine

Travelling to get a vaccine during lockdown is allowed, including receiving a lift from someone or using community transport providers.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/