A local hospital has opened as a Covid vaccine centre.

St Michael's Hospital on Rayne Road in Braintree opens today (January 16) as part of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.

Fern House Surgery opened as a vaccination centre on Friday.

Melbourne House Surgery in Chelmsford also opened today.

These latest centres are in addition to those that have already opened in Brentwood, Rochford, Danbury, Leigh-On-Sea, Grays, Rayleigh, Maldon, Westcliff-On-Sea, Wickford, Billericay, Basildon, Canvey Island, Earls Colne, Chelmsford, Benfleet, Grays, Witham, South Woodham Ferrers, Shoeburyness and Southend-On-Sea.

Care Home residents have already begun receiving their first vaccine.

Work is now underway to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and other health care workers.

The local NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and local residents are being asked not to contact their practice enquiring about vaccination.