Pfizer vaccine doses are available next week at the Leicester Royal Infirmary to patients in the priority cohorts.

People from Rutland and Leicestershire aged 50+ are being invited to book appointments next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Leicester Royal Infirmary hospital hub.

The national and local booking system opened up those aged 50 and over at the start of this week as the vaccine rollout enters its final push to get all adults older than 50 given at least one dose by mid-April.

There was concern that some patients might refuse the Astra-Zeneca jab here in the UK after a number of European countries paused giving it after unproven links to blood clots.

But Germany, France, Italy and Spain are among the countries which will restart their rollout of the jab today after EU regulators gave the go-ahead.

Boris Johnson yesterday had his first dose later today and has said he will have the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

The prime minister was himself treated in intensive care for Covid-19 in April 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic.

"The way to ensure lockdown easing happens is to get that jab when your turn comes, so let's get the jab done," he said at a Downing Street briefing.

The Pfizer jabs on offer at the Leicester Royal Infirmary are available to Our online 'hospital hub' vaccine booking system can be used by the following members of the public to book their initial vaccine appointment:

Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

All those 75 years of age and over

All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)

All those 65 years of age and over

At risk' adults aged 16 to 65 years with clinical criteria ( eligible conditions can be viewed here ).

All those 60 years of age and over

All those 55 years of age and over

All those 50 years of age and over

Click here to book an appointment and read the instructions on how to schedule a slot on the site before selecting the Leicester Royal Infirmary from the list of hubs.

At the last official count, almost 400,000 people have now received their first dose in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.