A NEW vaccination centre has opened in Chichester, as the largest vaccination programme in NHS history continues.

The latest Covid-19 vaccination facility opened at Westgate Leisure Centre yesterday.

The service is by appointment only and is run by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT).

Residents who are eligible for a vaccination, and who live within a 60 mile radius of Westgate Leisure Centre, are being written to directly by the NHS and invited to book an appointment through the national booking system, either online or by calling 119.

It is the fifth vaccination centre opened by the trust since the start of the year.

The other services are at Crawley Hospital, the Brighton Centre, The Welcome Building in Eastbourne and Etchingham Village Hall, which is run in partnership with local GPs.

More than 500 staff and volunteers have been recruited to run the centres.

READ MORE >> Data for first Covid vaccine in East Sussex and West Sussex

Siobhan Melia, chief executive of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m delighted we are able to open a vaccination centre today in Chichester for residents across Sussex, and I want to pay tribute to all teams from SCFT who have been involved in making this happen.

“The opening of this centre today follows the launch of other vaccination services across Sussex, and is all part of making the Covid-19 vaccination as accessible as possible to the communities we serve.”

There are more than 1,000 GP services and more than 250 hospital sites now offering vaccinations in England.

Donna Lamb, chief nurse at SCFT, said: “We are so proud to be able to support the Covid-19 vaccination programme across Sussex.

“Our trained vaccinators, supported by amazing volunteers, are on hand to help patients who attend our centres and we look forward to vaccinating many more people in the coming weeks which will make a huge difference to the communities we serve.

“I would encourage anyone who is invited for a vaccination to take up the offer.”