Gainsborough's John Coupland Hospital to become a Covid-19 vaccination centre

John Coupland Hospital is one of five more vaccination centres due to be opened by the end of this week.

The others are The Storehouse, Skegness, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln, Springfields, Spalding and Marisco Medical Practice, Mablethorpe.

Patients in these areas are being contacted to organise their vaccination appointments.

The NHS will contact people when it is their turn and people are asked not to contact the NHS.

Coun Owen Bierley, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This pandemic has been a dark time in the history of our district, and it is by no means over yet, but I am overjoyed to know that some of our residents, and some of our most vulnerable residents at that, will be provided with some form of protection over the next few days and weeks. This is the beginning of our district’s fight-back against this torrid virus.

“I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone at the NHS for the work they are doing at incredible speed – not only in helping many of our residents get through this disease, but now helping us all be protecting against it. Our district will forever be grateful.

“However, I must remind all residents that however great this news is, we are still very much in the heart of this pandemic. Celebrate this news, but do so at home, and remain hopeful that this really is the beginning of the end of our struggles.”

A spokesman for NHS Lincolnshire said: “The Covid vaccination process in Lincolnshire has got off to a great start and we are delighted that we were able to announce John Coupland Hospital as one of the latest wave of vaccination sites.

“These sites represent a further significant milestone for Lincolnshire, and the teams on site are raring to go.”

Anyone who has a vaccine appointment at John Coupland Hospital will be given specific details by the N HS to advise them when to attend and how the vaccine process works.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed more than 2.4 million doses of vaccine nationally have been handed out, and figures are set to be updated daily from now on.

The government hopes to give 13 million of the UK’s most vulnerable the jab by mid-February.

Mr Johnson said he estimated that so far roughly 40 per cent of all 80-year-olds had been done already, and 23 per cent of care home residents.

Seven new mass vaccination sites in England have also opened, however none are in Lincolnshire.

The news comes amid calls for tighter restrictions including greater enforcement of social distancing and mask-wearing.

Mr Johnson has said the rules were under “constant review”.

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