PEOPLE in Cornwall who have received an invitation to be vaccinated are being encouraged to 'not delay but book today' by NHS Kernow.

The NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has moved to the next stage of its COVID-19 vaccine roll-out – meaning more people than ever before are now eligible to get protected.

Those aged 65 years old or older, frontline health and care workers or people classified as clinically extremely vulnerable and are shielding (known as cohorts 1-5) and set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), are all eligible for the COVID vaccine.

Invites went out to people aged 65 and 69 for their first COVID vaccination last week, with people aged 64 also set to be invited later this week and the over 60s shortly after.

If you have had a letter inviting you to your vaccination or a front line health and care worker but have not yet booked, you are encouraged not to delay and book today.

You can book an appointment for your vaccination at the Stithians Showground, near Truro, or at the community pharmacies at Roche, Truro and Plymouth.

This can be done by logging on to the national NHS booking service or calling 119.

You can book to have your vaccination at the large scale vaccination centres or wait until you are contacted by your GP.

Even if you have not received your letter inviting you for the vaccine but are in the priority group 1-5, you may be able to book via the national NHS booking service.

The GP-led primary care networks will continue with their vaccination efforts, with additional focus on making sure those people who have been identified as 16 to 64, including people with the most support needs are offered the vaccine as quickly as possible.

GPs are vaccinating this group because they hold the information about each individual’s medical condition and for continuity of care.

Iain Davidson, clinical lead for the vaccination centres at Stithians and Wadebridge, and chief pharmacist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We currently have available slots at both our vaccination sites so our message is, if you have been invited, don’t delay and book today.

“Our vaccination sites have been set up to make it as easy as possible for you to attend and our team are ready and willing to vaccinate you and help us return to a sense of normality.

“The vaccine is safe and it will reduce the chances of you developing the COVID infection and of serious illness from COVID.

“It will help you protect your friends and family and help to protect the NHS, allowing us to do our jobs in protecting you from other illnesses.”

People are asked not to contact their GP or the vaccination sites or visit without an appointment.