NHS England has announced the opening of 30 new NHS Vaccination Centres across the country, including the Sunderland Nightingale hospital as well as the Black Country Living Museum.

This means that there is now a network of 50 large scale centres, capable of jabbing thousands of people a week, across the country. People aged 75 and over are being invited to book a vaccination at the centres or one of more than 70 pharmacy services now operating across England.

Also among the new sites opening is: Bath and West Showground, Somerset; Salisbury City Hall; The Francis Crick Institute; Telford International Centre; Oxford Kassam Stadium; and Lancaster Town Hall.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in NHS history, is off to a strong start, with NHS staff working hard to accelerate delivery as more vaccines supplies come on stream, while caring for very large numbers of people who are seriously ill with Covid. I am enormously proud of their successful so far. We are determined to save as many lives as possible by vaccinating the most vulnerable as swiftly as we can along with those who care for them.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: “I am grateful to all the NHS staff, volunteers and our armed forces for their continued tireless work to offer lifesaving vaccines to the most vulnerable people in our society.

“I urge every eligible person to book your jab when you get invited. By opening up more vaccination sites we are making it easier for people to get their vaccine. Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself but a jab doesn’t mean you can drop your guard. It takes time to develop protection and we do not yet know if it stops transmission. For now everyone must continue to play their vital role in this fight by staying at home to save lives.”