The past year has been an incredibly testing period for our town. Families, businesses, and community groups have all felt enormous strain, with uncertainty about the future weighing heavily on us all.

I know this first-hand – many families and businesses have contacted me this past year seeking my offices’ support with the issues they are facing, the vast majority of which we have been able to resolve.

The news that three Covid-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the UK is fantastic and provides a light at the end of a very dark tunnel for many.

Naturally, many Southport residents have contacted me as their Member of Parliament to ask for more information on the vaccine rollout in our town. Thankfully, many of those at highest risk across Southport have already received their first dose of the vaccine, which began to be administered here in late December.

Local GP practices, working together with our Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are planning and progressing the community vaccination programme. The fist groups who are receiving the vaccine are over-80s, and care home staff and residents, and healthcare workers.

I have met with both the CCG and the Vaccination Minister as recently as yesterday to be briefed on the progress of the vaccine rollout, and I am very happy with the foundations of this testing program which they have put in place.

Over the coming weeks this rollout will gain pace, with more and more people receiving their doses, and more venues being established as vaccination centres following strict and thorough assessment criteria.

At present, vaccinations centres include the Southport Health & Wellbeing Centre, and the Ainsdale Centre for Health and Wellbeing. The Minister for Vaccination has informed me that once more centres are set up, nobody in the country will be more than 10 miles from a vaccination centre. At present, nobody in Southport is further than 5.

I know many will be wondering when they, or their relatives, will get their dose. The current advice is to give our GP practices space to deal with their most immediate priority and try not to call to enquire as to when you will be asked to attend a centre.
Each of us will receive an invite when it is our turn, either by letter or phone call. Not all areas of Sefton began vaccinating at the same time, so do not be worried if you know others aged over 80 who have been invited whilst you haven’t. You won’t have been forgotten.


Southport has an incredibly high proportion of both elderly residents and care homes – and as such it may take our town slightly longer than neighbouring areas.

This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken, and we can be incredibly proud of the way they have adapted and risen to this monumental challenge.

We are in the final stretch of what has been an incredibly difficult journey. Let’s all continue to do our bit to protect our NHS and keep one and other safe.