GP’s, nurses, pharmacists and other NHS staff have already vaccinated thousands of patients’ across Tees Valley in the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.
Led by local primary care networks, the national immunisation programme is set to continue over the coming weeks helping to vaccinate patients aged 80 and over who have been identified as a priority group for the life-saving vaccine.
Patients in other priority groups will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn to receive the vaccine.
Dr Janet Walker, medical director for NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, said: ‘I am extremely grateful for the efforts of everyone in our local primary care teams, they really have pulled out all the stops to get this vaccination programme underway under extremely challenging circumstances.
“It is overwhelming to see all of our primary care teams coming together like never before – as a GP I am very proud to be part of this huge national effort to protect our patients and would urge everyone to come forward when they are called up for their vaccination.
“However the message to our patients and public remains the same, it’s really important that people wait to be invited –the NHS will let you know when it is your turn to come forward for the vaccine.”