Covid: Westpoint vaccination centre closing temporarily

The vaccination centre at Westpoint is due to shut between 1 and 11 April

A Covid-19 vaccination centre is to temporarily close due to delays in vaccine supply.

The centre at Westpoint, near Exeter, would close between 1 and 11 April, the NHS said.

Health bosses said it was due to a lack of vaccine supply for the first dose.

The NHS said it was "contacting a small number of people" to reschedule appointments to March "if possible", but anyone with appointments "should still attend" unless contacted.

'Have to pause'

Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chairman of the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said the vaccine roll-out in the south-west of England had been "phenomenal".

But he confirmed first injections were the ones "we are going to have to pause" because of national supply issues.

The government said last week the UK would face delays to vaccine supplies in April, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that would not affect people getting their second doses or England's roadmap out of lockdown.

Dr Johnson said there were no concerns about supplies for people awaiting their second injection, as vaccines had been earmarked for that purpose.

He added: "We do have the supply for those, and it is really important that people get their second dose."

Vaccination managers said they were continuing to call on people in priority groups, particularly those aged 50 to 60 who had not yet booked appointments, to book a slot between now and the end of March.

Those who did not, risked having to wait until May, they said.