New Covid vaccination centres are set to go live this week, meaning thousands more people aged 70 and over can finally get their jabs.

The new NHS vaccination services are in addition to the centres already in place in Blackburn, Lancaster and Blackpool.

People who are eligible, live within 45 minutes’ drive from the vaccination sites and who have not already been vaccinated by their GP-led service or hospital hub, will receive letters from the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Service, explaining how they can book their appointment.

The centres will be located at Kendal’s Westmorland Shopping Centre and Ulverston’s GSK Sports Centre, with further centres planned for Burnley and Preston in the coming weeks.

Clinical director for University of Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Sarah Hauxwell, said: “We are grateful for the co-operation of everyone in making these venues available to use as vaccination centres.

"I would personally like to thank the whole team for their enormous and outstanding contribution in getting them up and running so quickly.

"It is absolutely instrumental in our fight against this virus and the devastating effects Covid is having in our community.”

People are being reminded not to try and book or go to these services before they receive their booking letter.

People who book into the vaccination centres will be greeted by volunteers, who will marshal car parks and register them when they arrive.

These services are safe and strict social distancing measures have been put in place.

People will receive a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before they have their jab and the whole service will be led and overseen by trained nurses.

Covid-19 vaccination director for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System, Jane Scattergood, said: “As the expansion of the Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to gather pace, we are delighted that Kendal’s Westmorland Shopping Centre and Ulverston’s GSK Sports Centre will both also be used as vaccination centres, increasing availability of more local options. GPs, nurses, pharmacists, staff from across partners and volunteers have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to get the sites ready as part of the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations.

“We are planning for more vaccination centres to go live in South Cumbria and Lancashire over the coming weeks.

"We are asking the public to support the NHS by not contacting your GP about your vaccination, we will invite you when it is your time.

“The rollout of the vaccine and establishing these sites involves a wide range of organisations working together. 

"We are hugely grateful for the significant support given to the NHS to help deliver the Covid-19 vaccination programme from our wider partners including Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, our district councils, the military, police, local businesses and many more.”

Invitations to attend the new centre are being issued to people aged 70 or over or those clinically extremely vulnerable who are not listed as having been vaccinated at a hospital or GP service.

If they have received a jab since the letter was sent they can simply ignore it.

Care home residents who are unable to travel to vaccine centres, hospitals or GP-led sites are already receiving the vaccine at home from their GP.

Site director at GSK Ulverston, Phil Wilson, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with the NHS to help support the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in the South Lakes area.

"Our aim is to ensure vaccines are given to members of our community, starting with those most vulnerable, to help alleviate as much pressure as possible from our incredible health service.

"A big thank you to the amazing team at GSK, our former employees who are volunteering at the centre, our sports club and our local community for making this happen.”

A spokesperson for NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU said: "Please don’t delay having your vaccine, but if you can’t travel to a vaccination centre or you would rather wait for an appointment closer to home, you can choose to do that, and your local GP-led service will be in touch soon to offer an alternative.

"If you receive a letter from the national NHS Covid-19 vaccination booking service and you book an appointment, please make sure you attend it.

"The sooner you get your vaccination, when eligible, the earlier you will be protected from Covid-19."

As with other vaccination services, people should wait to be invited by the NHS.

It will not be possible to use the NHS Covid-19 vaccination booking service if you have not received an invitation letter.

It will also not be possible to get a vaccine at a vaccination centre or community pharmacy without an appointment.

Doing so risks disrupting the work of NHS staff in protecting those at highest risk.

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, additional vaccination centres will go live over the coming weeks in Preston and Burnley.

As soon as these are ready and available, they will appear on the national NHS Covid-19 vaccination booking service.

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lancashire and South Cumbria, including how to get involved, visit our Covid Vaccination website.