Second Covid jabs underway at Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club

The first phase of the vaccination programme at Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club has been completed as health staff concentrate on giving the public their second doses.

The vaccination centre - a jointly run service by all three general practices (Bassett Road Surgery, Leighton Road Surgery and Salisbury House Surgery) - launched on January 14 and has been making excellent progress in protecting residents as it works its way down the priority groups.

But arrangements have now been put in place for those who haven't yet received their first jab to instead use the area's mass vaccinations centres - the nearest being Dunstable or at Wing.

Stephen King, operations manager of Leighton Buzzard Primary Care Network’s vaccination centre at the rugby club, said: "The PCN Vaccination Centre has now completed the first phase of the vaccination programme.

"We have now vaccinated a total of 14,386 patients with their first dose of either PfizerBioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccine. We have also started to administer the second dose to patients and have already completed 1,818 vaccinations.

"We will continue with the second phase of the programme and have clinics planned up to April 15. The programme with continue beyond the 15th once our vaccine delivery dates have been published.

"Patients under the age of 50 will shortly be sent invitations from NHS England to attend a Mass Vaccination Site to receive their first dose.

"They will also be given a date for their second dose. Patients over the age of 50 who have yet to have their first dose are encouraged to arrange an appointment at a Mass Vaccination Site for their vaccination. The nearest sites are in Dunstable and Wing."