Vaccinations start at Wolverhampton's Aldersley Leisure Village

The site, closed for normal activities due to lockdown, is one of many across the region being converted as the vaccination rollout continues.

It comes as official figures are expected to confirm all older residents in England’s care homes have been offered a vaccine.

The Prime Minister said on Monday that the rollout “will only accelerate from here on”, after the daily number of jabs administered in the UK exceeded 500,000 for the first time.

NHS England said figures are expected to show on Monday that people living at more than 10,000 care homes with older residents had been offered their first vaccine doses, meeting the deadline set by the Government.

Dr Salma Reehana, clinical chairwoman of the Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We hope that, by delivering the vaccine at sites such as Aldersley Leisure Village, the opportunity to have the vaccine is accessible to our most vulnerable population."

"We're working with our GPs and partners to ensure that we can vaccinate those with most need as outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

"We will be in touch with those eligible for a vaccine as soon as we have appointments available – there’s no need for people to contact their pharmacy or GP – and I'd encourage people to step forward when they’re asked to do so because this is our opportunity to protect ourselves and each other."

Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield said: "Aldersley Leisure Village centre currently closed because of the national lockdown, and we are pleased to have been able to work closely with Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group to enable it to play a key part in the vaccination programme."

"Aldersley has already played an integral role in our fight against coronavirus, firstly as a food distribution hub during the lockdown last spring, and secondly as a drive-through test site. It’s great that it can now help with the ongoing vaccination campaign.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccine as and when they are invited to do so, and Aldersley Leisure Village benefits from ample parking and good public transport links.

"The size of the building means we will also be able to upscale the number of vaccines we can deliver from this site as and when required."