A new COVID-19 vaccination centre in Castle Point opens today at Runnymede Hall in Kiln Road, Thundersley, as the NHS vaccination programme continues to gather pace. OVER 24.4 MILLION people have received a vaccine so far across the United Kingdom. Our vaccination programme has so far been an extraordinary success – with over 40 per cent of adults across the UK now having received their first dose, helping to cut infection rates and reduce the spread of the virus.  

Residents in Castle Point have the option to get their vaccines at:

• Mass vaccination centres
• Benfleet Clinic & Canvey Island Paddocks Vaccination hubs arranged by their GPs
• Local hospital Hubs (Southend, Basildon, Chelmsford)
• Local pharmacies

There are currently 16 NHS large vaccination centre in Essex & Suffolk. They offer an additional option to hospital hubs, GP and pharmacy-led vaccination services and are among more than 1600 sites offering the vaccine nationally. These can give hundreds of vaccines a day, thousands a week, scaling up and down according to vaccine supplies. NHS staff will administer thousands of doses a week. 

Other nearby Vaccine centres include:

• The Cliffs Pavilion, in Southend-on-Sea
• The Mill Arts & Events Centre, in Rayleigh
• The Lodge, in Runwell, in Wickford
• Chelmsford City Racecourse 
• The Towngate Theatre, in Basildon 

The opening of the centre follows the launch of NHS text message alerts for the over 55s, making it quicker and easier for those eligible to book an appointment for their jab. The NHS is now urging everyone in the top priority groups, please contact the NHS to book in your jab, this includes: 

• you are aged 55 or over
• you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
• you have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
• you have a learning disability
• you are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

The easiest way is to do this is through the NHS National Booking Service, or if you can’t get online then you can ring the Essex Helpline on 0344 2573 961 (open 9am-4pm, local rate). . If you are at moderate risk from coronavirus (clinically vulnerable) the NHS will contact you to arrange your vaccination appointments.

If you are not eligible yet wait to be contacted. The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

The latest data is clear – vaccines save lives. Both the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines reduce the likelihood of serious illness by 60 per cent after the first dose, and reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation by 80 per cent after one dose. The vaccine is safe, effective and will help us get back to normal. UK Scientists have confirmed that the evidence available does not suggest that the Oxford vaccine causes blood clots. People should still go and get their vaccine when asked to do so.