Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing has thanked the NHS staff and volunteers working at the new COVID-19 vaccination centre at The Murray Hall in Loughton.
The Murray Hall centre, which opened yesterday (Thursday), is being run by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.
It has been set up with the support of various bodies, including Epping Forest District Council and Loughton Town Council.
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust chief executive Elliot Howard-Jones said: “Everyone at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust and all our partner organisations have been working very hard in the lead up to opening this centre in Loughton.
"My sincere thanks go to our project team and our school age immunisation team who are working around the clock to deliver this programme.”
Dame Eleanor was given a tour of the centre by Mr Howard-Jones, West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group chairman Dr Rob Gerlis and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust director of quality and nursing Sarah Browne when she visited The Murray Hall today.
Dame Eleanor said: "It's great that we have this new vaccination centre in Epping Forest. I am really impressed by the efficient way that everything has been set up and the number of people who are now being vaccinated.
"I would like to thank the NHS staff, St John Ambulance and all the volunteers who have made this possible."
Local residents aged over 60 are being invited to book a COVID-19 vaccination at the centre.
Local GPs have also started inviting a wider group of adults of all ages who have been identified as having underlying health conditions which put them at greater risk of suffering serious illness if they catch coronavirus.
This includes those newly identified as being on the Shielded Patients List and adult carers who are either registered for Carers Allowance or are identified as a carer on their GP records.
Eligible people can book an appointment at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination or by ringing 119.
People should only attend for a vaccination if they have a confirmed appointment at that location.
Anyone attending for a vaccine appointment is asked to arrive at the time of their appointment to avoid the need to wait to be seen, and to help maintain social distancing.
Picture captions:
Inside the Murray Hall COVID-19 vaccination centre: Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing with (left to right) West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group chairman Dr Rob Gerlis, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust chief executive Elliot Howard-Jones and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust director of quality and nursing Sarah Browne
Outside The Murray Hall COVID-19 vaccination centre: Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing with (left to right) Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust chief executive Elliot Howard-Jones, West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group chairman Dr Rob Gerlis and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust director of quality and nursing Sarah Browne
