MORE than 30,000 people have now been vaccinated at a hub in Basingstoke, according to the town's MP.

Maria Miller said that the Hampshire GP vaccine hub, operating at Hampshire Court Hotel, has now administered the Covid-19 vaccine to at least 30,000 people since it was set up on December 16.

She said the hub has been used to vaccinate "vulnerable groups as quickly as possible", adding: "The UK has already vaccinated more than the rest of Europe combined", with 1.3million now having received their first dose.

She was questioned why some vulnerable people had not yet received the vaccine, and said: "The group being vaccinated at the moment is the over 80s. We have a population that is older than other parts of the country so more people fall into this group." 

The NHS in Hampshire and Isle of Wight began vaccinating people on December 16 as part of the roll-out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history, with The Hampshire Court Hotel in, Centre Drive, Chineham chosen as the local hub.

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff are working alongside GPs to vaccinate those identified as priority groups for the life-saving vaccine.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said: "Like the hospital staff who launched the initial campaign, practice teams are working rapidly to organise the sites so that safe processes are in place to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.

"The NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. Please do not contact your surgery as the vaccination service is available strictly by invitation only."

It advised that some residents who fall within the West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group area may be offered a vaccination in a location outside of Basingstoke.