Central Bedfordshire Council have asked us to share this important information about the coronavirus vaccination programme in Central Bedfordshire:

“Vaccinations are underway in Central Bedfordshire, with GPs and pharmacies working together to vaccinate their patients from the following sites:

• Shefford Health Centre
• Priory Gardens Surgery in Dunstable
• Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club
• Rufus Centre in Flitwick 
• Weatherly Centre in Biggleswade
• Toddington Medical Centre

Your GP will contact you when it is your turn to get vaccinated and this will depend on the supply of the vaccines

People over 80 years of age and the clinically vulnerable are being prioritised to get their vaccinations first, along with care home staff and residents, and some health care workers.

Areas will finish vaccinating different priority groups at different rates. They will then start moving on to the next priority group, which includes people over 70 years of age. This will mean that some over 70s will be invited before others but please do not worry, your turn will come and you will be contacted as soon as possible. Please help by waiting to be invited for your vaccination – do not contact your GP to ask or make an appointment if you haven’t been invited.

Vaccinations are also available at a regional centre in Stevenage. If you receive an invitation to get vaccinated at Stevenage but you don’t want to, or can’t travel that far then don’t worry. You can decline this offer if you want to and wait for a local appointment but it might take a little longer.

The start of the vaccination programme is great news and is our way out of the pandemic and lockdown. However, it will take some time so please support the NHS with your patience. For now, is it still important to stay at home and if you have to go out then please remember the NHS message: hands, face, space.”

Central Bedfordshire Council has comprehensive information on their website pages; COVID-19 health advice.

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There is plenty of practical information about vaccinations on the Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire website too. They include a handy list of transport options to the vaccination locations:

• Help with transport to vaccination appointments. If you don’t have your own transport, and are unable to use public transport, to get to your vaccination appointment, you may be able to get some assistance from local organisations.

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For information and guidelines from the NHS please visit the UK government website www.gov.uk/coronavirus

See the AdviceCentral useful links page for up to date coronavirus information and support to help you with claiming benefits, paying utility bills, overdrafts, mortgages, info for tenants and landlords plus some coronavirus emergency funds for organisations.