Initial plans for how Covid-19 vaccinations will be rolled out in Kent have been unveiled.

Health bosses hope to set up three mass vaccination sites in the county by December 1, where the vaccine will be given to care staff as a priority.

Managers from Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) met virtually this morning to discuss the plans. (Thursday, November 19)

Gail Locock, the CCG's director of nursing and quality, said the programme was "huge" and "logistically challenging" and current plans dictated, whilst the vaccine may not be ready by December 1, at least one mass testing site in the county should be up and operational by then.

She said the site would be as accessible as it could be, given the speed at which it was having to be set up, and that it would be "scaled up over time".

The location of the sites was not discussed.

Whilst the first priority will be care staff, those aged over 85, care home residents and people with additional health needs will also be prioritised.

Additional planning is being put in place to ensure those eligible for the vaccinations will be able to access them following the UK's departure from the EU.

There are fears of widespread travel disruption once the UK's transition period comes to an end, with more checks at the border from January 1.

Primary care planners will be able to apply to vaccinate people aged over 50, primary care staff, those in care homes and people who are house-bound.

Yesterday, it was announced the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine appears to protect 94% of adults aged over 65 in trials.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of another vaccine, known as the Oxford vaccine, which has been developed by AstraZeneca.

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