Sussex's Pioneering Role In New Vaccine Roll-Out

The first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are set to be given in Brighton today, along with five other locations.

The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust is taking part in the first stage of the roll-out.

Medics say they've been chosen to carry out "surveillance tests" ahead of the full vaccination programme, a standard procedure when introducing a new treatment.

Earlier today (January 4), Brian Pinker, 82, became the first person to receive his first dose of the new innoculation at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, close to the centre where the vaccine was developed.

He has kidney disease and is a dialysis patient: and, after the jab, said, he's "so pleased" to be receiving the protection.

There are more than 700 vaccination sites, with up to 100 hospital more sites are due to come online across the country, subject to final assurance checks, this week.

The NHS says there are also another 180 GP-led services which are due to come online this week.

The following hospitals are the first to deliver the vaccine "for surveillance purposes" ahead of the rollout to hundreds of GP-led services later in the week:

• Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Royal Free Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust
• Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
• George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

The government's described the move as a "pivotal moment" in the fight against coronavirus.