VULNERABLE and elderly residents and health care staff this week began receiving their Covid-19 jabs when West Somerset’s first vaccination centre opened for business at Minehead community hospital.

Led by local GPs, practice nurses and community pharmacists, the Minehead centre joins Frome and Crewkerne as a second wave of Somerset vaccination sites. Other West Somerset locations will follow in the coming weeks.

An NHS spokesman said: “GP practice teams have been working very hard with NHS colleagues to set up local vaccination sites to enable the most vulnerable people to have their vaccinations.

“People who have been identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation as the highest priority will be invited first, including over-80s and health and care staff.”

Dr Joey McHugh, vice-chairman of the Somerset Primary Care Board, said: “This is another really positive step in the development of our vaccination programme across Somerset – thanks to the phenomenal efforts of all our GP practice teams and health and care colleagues to set up additional local vaccination sites.

“As a local GP, I have personally been involved in giving some of the very first vaccines to some of our most vulnerable patients.

“I can honestly say that this has been one of the best moments of my GP clinical career and a moment in history, as we work together to fight this disease, and give hope to our most vulnerable people.

“We know that everyone is very keen to know when they will be getting their vaccine, but please do not contact your local GP practice or hospital.

“We will contact you directly when it is the right time. We will give you all the information you need when you come for your appointment.”

One of the first patients to receive her jab said: “I was really keen to get the vaccination, so I was very happy and relieved when the invitation came through

“Coronavirus has been hanging over our family, like everyone, since March now. I’ve been so worried about going out and about meeting people, but hopefully this means we will be able to get back to some kind of normality in 2021.”