Environment Secretary George Eustice has experienced first-hand the outstanding work undertaken at one of Cornwall’s vaccination centres during a virtual visit to the centre at Stithians showground.

The Secretary of State took a virtual tour of the vaccination hub yesterday (Friday 12th February) as the Government remains on track to offer a vaccine to everyone in the UK in the first four priority groups by 15 February.

Mr Eustice met chief pharmacist Iain Davidson who briefed him on Cornwall’s vaccine roll out. He was also joined by Cornwall-based celebrity chef Rick Stein, who recently got the jab himself, to thank the NHS heroes spearheading this cross-country effort.

As of 11th February, first doses have been delivered in to 127,802 arms in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with locals Geoff Penhaligon and Rosemary Southwood also joining the tour – after both receiving their own jabs as part of the ongoing vaccine roll out.

Over 13 million people have now received their first vaccine dose, and through our world-leading vaccines delivery plan we remain on track to offer a first dose to everyone in the first four priority groups by Monday (15th February).

All those eligible for a vaccination are urged to take them up to make sure that they are able to get the protection they need as we continue to fight this disease together.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

The vaccination site at Stithians Showground is playing a vital part in the rollout of the vaccine across Cornwall. It was a pleasure to virtually meet some of the local NHS staff and volunteers who have been working so hard to get the vaccine to priority groups across from across the county.

Our priority is to protect the NHS and save lives, and I would urge anyone who is eligible for a jab to book an appointment and join the national effort to help us halt the spread of this virus.

Cornish local and celebrity chef Rick Stein said:

I can report a completely positive experience having my COVID-19 vaccination last week, made all the more memorable because half a dozen of my closest friends of the same age as me where there at the same time, the first social experience I’ve had for weeks.

I think the NHS have been amazing throughout this awful pandemic.

Iain Davidson, chief pharmacist for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

Vaccinating people is our way out of this pandemic, and we’re making great strides in our vaccination programme to protect the most vulnerable people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly against COVID-19.

Everyone across health and care is committed to the rollout programme and is working very hard to offer the vaccines to the most vulnerable by the middle of February, and I would like to thank them for their tireless support. Up until 4 February, our incredible team of GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists and clinicians have vaccinated more than 103,000 people – including our frontline health and social care staff.

I would encourage anyone who’s aged 70 and older, extremely clinically vulnerable, or one of our frontline health and care staff who isn’t yet booked in for a Covid vaccination to call 119 or visit nhs.uk to book their appointment – don’t wait for your letter, just pick up the phone, or book online now.

People aged 70 and over in England should contact the NHS to arrange their jab through the online national booking service. If they cannot get online, they can also call 119 or contact their local GP practice.

Small businesses and those in leasehold and rented accommodation are set to benefit from up to £50 million to install electric vehicle chargepoints.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has today (13 February 2021) announced that the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provides up to £350 towards a chargepoint, will continue next year and be expanded to target people in rented and leasehold accommodation.

At the same time, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) will be opened up to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and the charity sector, providing a boost as staff return to work. The changes will also mean that small accommodation businesses, such as B&Bs can benefit from the funding, boosting rural areas, and tackling the ‘range anxiety’ associated with long journeys.

This investment comes as the department launches a consultation on improving the charging experience – simplifying payments and increasing reliability – taking us a step closer to delivering on the commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said:

Whether you’re on the school run or travelling to work, or don’t have access to a private parking space, today’s announcement will bring us one step closer to building and operating a public chargepoint network that is affordable, reliable and accessible for all drivers.

As the UK accelerates towards net-zero emissions by 2050, we are determined to deliver a world-leading electric vehicle charging network, as we build back greener and support economic growth across the country.

Today’s consultation suggests simplifying payment at chargepoints, meaning electric vehicle drivers can use contactless payment but do not have to download an app. It also seeks to make chargepoints more reliable and to force operators to provide a 24/7 call helpline for drivers.

Drivers should also be able to find and access chargepoints easily, which is why we’re proposing that operators should make location data, power rating and price information more accessible for drivers. This is essential for ensuring costs are fair, for driving competition, and for increasing the confidence of both existing electric vehicle drivers and those considering making the switch.

These proposals will ensure that it’s as easy – or even easier – for drivers to charge their car as it is to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle.

The investment announced today, follows £20 million in funding announced last week for councils to improve the on-street charging infrastructure in their local areas, and is part of a suite of measures the government is taking to accelerate electric vehicle uptake and decarbonise transport.

CEO of Co Charger, Joel Teague, said:

From a Co Charger point of view, this announcement is particularly welcome because it will put more chargepoints into homes and businesses where they can be shared with their neighbourhoods. Dependable, affordable charging while at home or work is essential for people to make the switch to electric motoring, and by sharing these newly funded chargepoints communities will be able to meet that need.

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chair, Mike Cherry, said:

It’s great to see the Department for Transport putting businesses front and centre as part of the UK’s mission to achieve net-zero by 2050.

Small businesses want to play a critical role in helping the UK reach its green targets, and electric vehicles are the future. That’s why this is important news for the nation, particularly rural areas which are often left behind.

• Over 14 million of the most vulnerable have already received their first dose in the UK’s largest-ever medical deployment
• Government ministers join concerted drive to further boost vaccine take-up in every region and nation of the UK

People eligible for a vaccine who have not yet had their jab are being urged to come forward this weekend in a renewed drive to roll out the vaccine to those most at risk as quickly as possible.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of the NHS, volunteers, our armed forces and local authorities, more than 14 million of the most vulnerable people in the UK have already been vaccinated – including around 9 in 10 of all over-70s.

From mosques and museums to rugby grounds and cathedrals, vaccinations are taking place at thousands of sites across the UK in the country’s biggest-ever medical deployment.

Today, almost 30 government ministers are taking part in a further concerted push in every region and nation of the UK to encourage everyone eligible for the vaccine to come forward through visits and virtual meetings.

They will hear from NHS staff, volunteers helping with the deployment, and people getting their jabs, as part of continued efforts to underline the importance of getting vaccinated and protecting yourself from COVID-19.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has visited the Stoke Mandeville stadium – the birthplace of the Paralympic movement – which is being used as a vaccination centre. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is visiting the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground to meet doctors, nurses and volunteers supporting the national effort, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is hearing from military personnel helping administer vaccines alongside healthcare staff at the Whitemoor Lakes site in Staffordshire.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has met with military personnel supporting the vaccine roll-out in Stirling, following confirmation that a further 353 armed forces personnel will deploy across Scotland to support the pandemic response and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will speak with healthcare staff at Elland Road Vaccination Centre, home of Leeds United.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is volunteering at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Temple in Bedford and Environment Secretary George Eustice is having a virtual tour of Stithians’ showground in Truro to thank local NHS workers.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

I am determined that we protect as many of our country’s most vulnerable people from this awful disease as soon as possible. It is so important that everyone aged 70 and over who hasn’t yet had a vaccination comes forward this weekend and contacts the NHS to book in their jab.

Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic and it is testament to the strength of our Union and the combined power of our United Kingdom that we’ve seen such incredible progress in the roll-out of our vaccination programme.

I want to thank all the NHS workers, volunteers, local partners and armed forces who have done such a tremendous job so far in protecting our families and our communities.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said:

Thanks to the tireless efforts of staff, the NHS vaccination programme – the biggest and fastest in health service history – is off to a strong start with over 12 million people in England already taking up the offer of a vaccine at one of over 1,500 centres across the country.

People in the priority groups have not missed their chance to get jabbed and if you are aged 70 and over and haven’t yet taken up the offer, please do come forward and make an appointment – the vaccine is safe, simple, and will offer you and those around you crucial protection against this virus.

The top 4 priority cohorts include care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers, anyone aged 70 or over and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

People aged 70 and over in England should now contact the NHS to arrange their jab. They can do this through the online national booking service, of if they cannot get online they can dial 119 or contact their local GP practice.

Health and social care workers should speak to their employer if they have not had their vaccine yet.

GP teams have been asked to contact their clinically extremely vulnerable patients to make sure they have been offered a jab.

We are working with communities right across the country to make sure that whatever someone’s background, ethnicity or religious beliefs, everyone is able to get the protection they need as we continue to fight this disease together. Today, the government and NHS are publishing a new plan setting out the work we are doing in partnership with communities at a national and local level to increase vaccine uptake and ensure equity of access.

The government has committed to offering the vaccine to all those over 50 by May and all adults by September.

England’s 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst has led some of Britain’s sporting legends to urge people aged 70 and over yet to receive their coronavirus vaccination to join them in getting the jab.

Crystal Palace and former England Manager Roy Hodgson, former England cricketer turned commentator David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, 1969 Wimbledon Ladies Singles Champion Ann Jones CBE, five-time British Champion Jockey Willie Carson OBE and 1981 Grand National winner Bob Champion CBE have all received their first vaccination from the NHS, as members of the top 4 priority groups. They are set to receive their second doses within 12 weeks.

These top 4 groups account for 88% of COVID deaths, which is why the vaccines will play such a crucial role in saving lives and reducing the demand on the NHS.

With over 60s due to receive the vaccine soon, former England Rugby Union captain Sir Bill Beaumont CBE and double Olympic Decathlon Champion Daley Thompson CBE have said they will step forward and receive their jabs when asked to do so.

More than 13 million people have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine across the nation, as part of the largest vaccination programme in British history. This includes 1 in 4 adults in England, over 90% of everyone over 75 and over 90% of eligible residents of care homes for the elderly.

This week the Prime Minister and Health Secretary urged anyone aged 70 and over who has not yet been vaccinated to contact the NHS by visiting www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or calling 119 to arrange a jab.

Sir Geoff Hurst said:

Three weeks ago today my wife and I got our first AstraZeneca vaccines at 10.06 and 10.08 in our local Cheltenham Fire Station. It was well organised as you’d expect, and didn’t hurt a bit.

This is a global pandemic. For goodness sake, just get it done. It’s in your interest, as well as that of your family, friends, workmates, and your country.

Roy Hodgson said:

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get the notification that it was my turn to receive the coronavirus vaccine, so I didn’t hesitate to go along to my local medical centre. The process was simple, everything was extremely well organised. The jab, which one hardly feels, was over in seconds and in no time I found myself back at home.

I urge anyone like me, aged 70 and over, if you haven’t yet received your vaccine, please come forward and make an appointment as soon as you can. Or, of course if you have grandparents, relatives and friends over 70, please encourage them to book an appointment and join the millions of us that have already done so.

David Lloyd said:

I’m over 70 and I’ve had my first NHS coronavirus injection. They were all set up at the local cricket and rugby club and it was great! Sleeve up, jab in…job done! Don’t hesitate, just do it…every single jab makes us all safer. Bumble says get on with the jab!

Ann Jones CBE said:

I had my vaccination about a month ago in my doctor’s surgery in Birmingham. It was painless, and I’d like to thank the NHS and all their staff for everything they are doing. I would encourage everyone who has the opportunity of getting vaccinated to take advantage of it and book an appointment. Like so many people, I’d like to get back to being able to enjoy life again, and everyone getting vaccinated offers the best opportunity of us all returning to some sort of normality as soon as possible.

Willie Carson OBE said:

Four weeks ago I got one of the best phone calls I’ve received this year – the appointment for my first coronavirus vaccination at Cirencester Hospital. I encourage everyone to get it quick – make a nuisance of yourself! The jab will make you safer.

Bob Champion CBE said:

Last week I was very excited going to my GP surgery to receive my vaccination from the surgery nurse. It is wonderful to have thousands of doctors, nurses and volunteers helping to make us safe and hopefully get us back to some normality in the near future.

The whole process was extremely well organised and the injection didn’t hurt at all. So please do not hesitate if you are aged 70 and over, and haven’t yet received your vaccine. Come forward and make an appointment as soon as you can. Encourage any grandparents, relatives and friends over 70 to book an appointment too. Every jab makes us all a bit safer. It will offer you and those around you crucial protection against this virus.

Sir Bill Beaumont CBE said:

Given the challenges presented by coronavirus, it is fantastic that this year’s Six Nations is going ahead as planned. I know it has been an enormous effort to make it happen – it’s a real tonic to have live sport to watch. I urge everyone who is eligible for a vaccine to get it as soon as possible. Immunisation will help open up society, get the community game back up and running, and to enable crowds at live sports.

Daley Thompson CBE said:

I’m looking forward to my jab, as it will help protect those most important to me. If not for yourself, have the vaccine for the safety of others. I’m loving the thought that we are all getting closer to normal, one injection at a time.

Yesterday Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden visited Lord’s Cricket Ground, where he met doctors, nurses and volunteers supporting this national effort. The Home of Cricket opened its doors as a makeshift COVID-19 vaccination centre to its local community in January, and reached the milestone of vaccinating 10,000 people last week.

It is just one of more than 80 elite and grassroots sport venues that have been partly converted into either a large vaccination centre or GP-led service in support of the vaccine rollout – ranging from Villa Park in Birmingham, Epsom Racecourse and the Manchester Tennis Centre, to Harlow Sports Centre and Glossop Cricket and Bowling Club.

Vaccinations have also been taking place in a number of arts and cultural venues, including the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds and the Derby Arena.

The NHS is delivering COVID vaccinations at more than 1,500 sites across England alone, from mosques, to museums and cathedrals. Sites have been chosen to ensure that the vast majority of the population live within 10 miles of at least one vaccination service.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

Sports have played a magnificent role in helping us fight this virus, from hosting test centres, to providing food to frontline workers, to calling older fans at risk of loneliness. And now venues such as Lord’s are helping deliver the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in Britain’s history.

Our elderly have shown us the way by enthusiastically rolling up their sleeves, so let’s keep this going. I urge any over 70s to join our sports legends and contact the NHS if they haven’t had the vaccine yet. The vaccine will save lives, livelihoods and get us back to the things we love.

The public has a vital part to play in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the government has called on people to:

Further plans on expanding the vaccination programme to the other priority groups will be set out soon.

Notes to editors:

Vaccines have been offered to all elderly care home residents and staff in England and Wales.

All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality.

Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab thanked the dedicated medical teams delivering coronavirus jabs to the country’s most vulnerable people during a visit today to a shopping centre converted into a vaccine hub.

His visit to The Heart centre in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, came as the UK is on track to reach the target of offering a first dose to the top four priority groups by Monday (February 15).

Mr Raab saw local residents in the 70+ age group and clinically vulnerable people who were getting their jabs.

More than 10,000 people have been vaccinated at The Heart centre since it was launched on 14 January this year. A former clothes shop has been converted to meet the challenge of the mass roll-out, and hundreds of local residents are receiving jabs there every day.

Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab said:

It’s thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, including the dedicated team at this hub, that we’ve delivered the first dose to millions of our most vulnerable citizens.

If you are eligible for the vaccine, I would urge you to get it as soon as possible, as this is our way out of the devastating pandemic.

I’m proud that the UK is leading efforts for global access to COVID vaccines and treatments to protect more people and help end the pandemic sooner.

Dr Caroline Baker, CEO of North West Surrey Integrated Care Services, the GP federation leading the roll out of vaccinations in the area, said:

Our teams have been working tirelessly and we’re so proud to have offered the vaccine to nearly all our over 70-year-old and shielding patients.

The community spirit here has been phenomenal. From our dedicated clinical teams and support staff, to our army of volunteers and enthusiastic local council and voluntary sector colleagues – everyone has played a part in making the local programme a huge success.

Monika Wells, from Long Ditton, is a volunteer at the Walton service, helping to guide patients through the process. She said:

I wanted to support this huge effort to get the country back on its feet. The dedication of the team here is just amazing. It’s like a vaccination tsunami – the pace is incredible and we’re just getting it done.

It’s a really rewarding role – everyone is so appreciative and often quite emotional as they’ve not been out of the house for over a year. This is the glimmer of hope we’ve all wanted.

All those who live in England, who are aged 70 and over and haven’t yet had an appointment, should contact the NHS to arrange their vaccine.

It is also essential that everyone continues to stay at home if possible, whether they have had their jab or not, to protect the NHS and save lives.

Further information:

• The UK has been leading global efforts to ensure that developing countries receive doses. It is one of the largest donors to Gavi’s COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), committing £548 million in UK aid to help distribute 1.3 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines to 92 developing countries this year.

• The UK has also helped to raise $1bn for the COVAX AMC from other international donors.

• Through the UK vaccines delivery plan, we will offer a first vaccine to everyone in the first four priority groups by February 15th.

• The top four groups are recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and are care home residents and staff, those aged over 80, frontline health and social care staff, those aged over 70, and the clinically extremely vulnerable.