Bognor Regis vaccination clinic approved: This is when vaccines will begin

The news was confirmed by the Avisford Medical Group, which includes Yapton Surgery and Middleton Medical Centre, on its website.

The vaccination clinic will be based at the Bognor Health Centre building.

Current guidelines mean GPs must work collaboratively from one site in their Primary Care Network, rather than from their own practices.

The statement from Avisford Medical Group read: “The local surgeries involved will be starting clinics between Thursday 7th and Saturday 9th Jan (each surgery running different morning and afternoon surgeries).

“Further dates will be announced in days to come depending on supply of vaccine stocks from NHS England.”

The booking process will be handled by a group called Innovations in Primary Care (IPC), which will be contacting patients directly to invite them in.

The statement continued: “At the moment, this will be prioritised based on age starting with 80+ group only.

“This will be a rolling programme with second dose administered before 12 weeks.

“We will also simultaneously have campaign running over next weeks to cover housebound and care homes.

“Please wait to be contacted, and don’t contact the surgery as we won’t have access to the appointments.

“We do not have control on the priority list, so please do not call us and insist on getting a jab.

“It is likely that we will have less clinics and appointments available in surgery as we need to release staff to work in the vaccination centre.

“This is essential work tackling this public health crisis, so we thank you for your understanding and patience.

“In the interim, please continue to be safe. Cases in the local area have definitely risen.

“Maintain your social distancing, and ensure you follow the rules on isolation of you test positive, or have confirmed contact with someone who has tested positive.”

The infection rate in Arun stood at 682 cases per 100,000 people in the latest week 25-31 December. The average area in England had 453 cases per 100,000 people.