People aged 45 to 49 in the Dawlish and Teignmouth area are being invited for their first dose of the Covid vaccination as the next stage in the programme gets under way.

The Coastal Network of GP practices is administering the jabs at the vaccination centre at Dawlish Community Hospital.

The practice is contacting patients by text message to invite them to make an appointment.

The Coastal Network comprises the Barton Surgery (Dawlish), Channel View Medical Group and Teign Estuary Medical Group. It is also including patients registered with the Westbank Practice (Starcross & Exminster) in the current phase of the vaccination programme.

People may also be contacted by the national vaccination booking service. If so, they can choose whether to attend one of the vaccination centres involved in the national programme, or go to the Dawlish Hospital centre.

The Coastal Network is currently looking for more people to join its team of volunteers at the Dawlish vaccination centre.

The roles needed are post-vaccination observers, clinic runners, people to staff the doors for screening, and registered healthcare professionals who could carry out the vaccinations.

Anyone who can spare a morning or afternoon is asked to email [email protected]

The 'major contribution' by GP practices

Dr Paul Johnson, a GP and clinical chair at Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "GPs and their teams have made a major contribution to delivering the Covid vaccination programme, while also caring for patients' routine, urgent and Covid care. In Devon, two in three people in the adult population have now received their first vaccine dose and we thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in helping make this happen.

"Alternative arrangements are being put in place in areas where GP-led sites are not continuing to vaccinate in phase two to ensure there is continued local access to the Covid-19 vaccine for their patients aged 18-49. This includes alternative local providers, such as local pharmacies, hospital hubs and larger vaccination centres."

Anyone who has an appointment for a first or second dose of Covid vaccine at the large vaccination centre at Westpoint Exeter should go to the new site at the nearby Greendale Business Park if their appointment is 7 May 2021 or after.

The centre is relocating to Greendale as Westpoint starts to return to its commercial events calendar following the easing of lockdown restrictions.