Vaccine rollout begins in Devon

100-year-old Fred Woodall amongst first to receive jab at Exmouth Tennis Centre

Some of the first patients across Devon to be given the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine have urged people to get vaccinated when it is your turn.

The first phase of GP-led vaccination centres in Devon on Tuesday saw the opening of eight sites serving 49 of the county’s practices.

Those in the over 80 age group have begun to get vaccinated, although in Exmouth, the over 90s age group were exclusively invited for the first tranche of the rollout.

They included 100-year-old Fred Woodall, from Exmouth, who was one of the first to receive the jab at the Exmouth Tennis Centre. “I’m feeling alright at the moment,” he said. “I’ve had no effects from it and when invited, I thought I better take it.”

Gerald Roberts, aged 90, also from Exmouth, added: “It’s the best thing to do and you have to take every day as it comes. I had no second thoughts and it is no different to the flu jab that you get done. I am not worried about it, and the best thing to do is to get the vaccine.”

The eight locations in Devon’s first wave of local vaccination centres will see nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff working alongside doctors to vaccinate people aged over 80 and care home workers, who have been identified as priority groups for a life-saving vaccination.

Each site has been given 975 initial doses of the vaccine which will be given to patients in the next three or four days.

In Devon, the eight sites in the first phase are;

Abbey Surgery, Tavistock, which is serving patients from Abbey Surgery, Tavyside Health Centre and Yelverton Surgery.

Exmouth Tennis and Fitness Centre which is serving patients from Coleridge Medical Centre, Honiton Surgery, Sid Valley Practice, Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice, Claremont Medical Practice, Haldon House Surgery, Imperial Surgery, Raleigh Surgery, Rolle Medical Partnership and Woodbury Surgery.

Limes Surgery, Exminster, which is serving patients from Cranbrook Medical Centre, Ide Lane Surgery, Pinhoe & Broadclyst Medical Centre, Topsham Surgery and Westbank Practice.

Okehampton Medical Centre, which is serving patients from Chagford Health Centre, Moretonhampstead Health Centre, Okehampton Medical Centre and Black Torrington Surgery.

Riviera International Centre, Torquay, which is serving patients from Croft Hall Medical Practice, Chelston Hall Surgery, Brunel Medical Practice, Southover Medical Practice, Chilcote Surgery, Pembroke Medical Group, Corner Place Surgery, Old Farm Surgery, Mayfield Medical Centres and Compass House Medical Centres.

St Boniface House, near Buckfastleigh, which is serving patients from Leaside Surgery, Totnes, Catherine House Surgery, Totnes, Buckfastleigh Medical Centre, Ashburton Surgery, South Brent Medical Centre, Redfern Medical Centre, Salcombe, Chillington Health Centre, Modbury Health Centre, Norton Brook Surgery, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth Medical Practice, Dartmouth.

Seaton Community Hospital, which is serving patients from Axminster Medical Practice, Seaton & Colyton Medical Practice and Townsend Hose Medical Centre.

The Staddy function centre, Plymouth, which is serving patients from Church View Surgery, Wembury Surgery, Dean Cross Surgery and Yealm Medical Centre.