Hundreds queue for Covid-19 vaccination at new Newcastle hub

Hundreds of patients have queued up to receive coronavirus jabs at mass vaccination centres which have opened across England today (11th January).

Lines of patients, many over 80, formed outside sites around the country where nurses prepared to vaccinate thousands at socially-distanced tables or cubicles.

The North East hub - based at the Centre for Life in Newcastle - is one of seven across the country, with an initial aim of vaccinating over a thousand people per day.

Great-grandfather Nana Kwabena Edusei, 81, was the first member of the public to be jabbed at the Centre for Life, which will be able to vaccinate eight patients every five minutes.

Mr Edusei, a retired manager with Associated British Foods, said after his experience:

"It was not a problem at all.

"They asked me a few questions about my health, I signed a form, everything went smoothly, I didn't feel the injection at all.'

"I'm very pleased I have had the injection and now I am relaxed that I know I have had it.''

The father of three, who has three grandchildren, was born in Ghana but has been in the UK for 55 years and lives in Heaton. He's urged other people his age to be vaccinated, saying:

"I'm going to tell all my friends that it's a good thing to have done.''

The Government is aiming to offer a vaccination to 15 million vulnerable people in the UK - including the over-80s, care home residents and health and care staff - by the middle of February.

Around two million people in the UK have now received their first dose of the vaccine.

Jimmy Charlton, 80, from Blakelaw in Newcastle, was another early patient at the Centre for Life, where people were queuing by 9am.

He said the way the centre was organised was "spot on'' and the experience could not have gone better.

The grandfather, who has two children, said people should be vaccinated if they get the chance, adding:

"Get it done, no messing about. It will make them feel happier once it is done.''