Vaccinations have begun in Oakham at the offices of Rutland County Council.

Council leader Oliver Hemsley said: "It has been confirmed that Rutland County Council's Catmose offices in Oakham are to be used as a COVID-19 vaccination centre. This is extremely good news for the people of Rutland.

"The list of suitable sites in Rutland is very limited, due to our size and the makeup of our towns and villages. We feel it's vital that our residents are able to access the vaccine here, in the County, and so have worked extremely closely with our partners in the NHS and national government to put all the necessary measures in place at Catmose.

Coun Hemsley added: "The vaccination programme itself is being managed by the NHS and residents do not need to take any action at this stage. The NHS will contact you and let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine."

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents, identified as priority groups for the life-saving vaccine.

Caroline Trevithick, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Performance for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland clinical commissioning groups said: "We wouldn't have been able to begin vaccinating patients from as many practices as we have if it weren't for local communities making their buildings available to us.

"It means we will be able to vaccinate greater numbers of patients, close to where they live, than we would out of GP practice premises alone. We are extremely grateful for their support in keeping our patients safe while we roll out the vaccine."

Caroline Trevithick added: "You will be contacted by your GP practice to book your vaccination when your turn comes and you will be advised where you need to go. Please do not contact your practice enquiring about the vaccine before then."

The clinical commissioning groups are also urging everyone to continue to remain vigilant and follow local Covid alert level restrictions and social distancing guidance while the vaccine is rolled out to all population groups.

The Rutland Primary Care Network advised on its website: "The Covid-19 vaccination programme in Rutland is planned to start on 21 December 2020. People who are over 80 and care home workers will be the first to be invited to make an appointment for vaccination. At the moment there is no vaccine suitable for people who cannot travel to the single site because we are not allowed to move the vaccine.

"There are over 2500 people over 80 in Rutland, and the vaccine is delivered in batches of 975, so don't worry if you have not been contacted straight away. We are contacting people in age order. The next session will be in January."

The network continued: "Do not contact your practice – we will contact you.

"All vaccinations will be given only by prior appointment – no walk in.

"The Rutland Primary Care Network will have regular updates and frequently asked questions about the Rutland Covid Vaccination Programme. Do not contact your surgery as they will be unable to help you with your COVID Vaccination enquiries."

The network added: "When your practice contacts you, you will be asked to make 2 appointments 21 days apart.

"Please do not accept an appointment if there is a chance you cannot attend BOTH appointments, as the vaccine has a limited lifespan and will be wasted.

"You will not have any protection from the vaccine until a few weeks after your second injection."

Rutland MP Alicia Kearns said today: "I'm delighted to announce that as planned, this week two vaccination centres open in Rutland and Melton. This is less than two weeks after the first vaccination in our country.

In addition to the council offices, a centre is also now open at Melton Sports Village, Melton Mowbray

The MP added: "Residents have already begun to be invited to vaccination this week and an enormous team effort has been underway for weeks and it's fantastic to see it come to fruition and provide an enormous sense of relief and source of hope to our communities locally. Thank you to all those who've worked so hard on this.

"I understand everyone's anxiety to be vaccinated but please do not contact your GP. We have many people to vaccinate and you will be invited by letter, phone or text in due course."