30,000 people in Norfolk have received first Covid vaccine dose so far

Around 30,000 people in Norfolk and Waveney have so far received a coronavirus vaccine, with more specialist centres set to open in the coming days. 

As the region reaches a major milestone, almost 40pc of people over the age of 80 have received their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab at hospitals and GP surgeries.

Of the 65,000 over-80s across the area, around 25,500 have been vaccinated. 

And, from today (January 7), NHS practitioners across the nation are beginning to give out the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is cheaper and easier to store.  

The region's three main hospitals - the Norfolk and Norwich (NNUH), Queen Elizabeth (QEH) in King's Lynn and James Paget (JPUH) in Gorleston - have all had access to vaccine doses since the roll-out was launched. 

NNUH and JPUH were among the country's first 50 hospitals to administer the jab, in early December, before QEH joined the programme last week. 

Nine Norfolk and Waveney GP surgeries have been giving out vaccines, and another two - Bowthorpe Medical Practice in Norwich and The Park Surgery in Great Yarmouth - will join the programme on Friday (January 8).

A further ten GP-led sites will open next week, taking the total number in the Norfolk and Waveney CCG area to 21.

Until now, constituencies such as North Norfolk and Norwich North - with populations of 87,596 and 90,083 respectively - have had no local vaccination services. 

In west Suffolk, it was confirmed on Thursday that the Jubilee Centre in Mildenhall would be added to the list from January 11.

People across the region are being encouraged not to attend local surgeries or hospitals for a vaccine unless contacted about an appointment.