More than 1,600 people have had a Covid-19 vaccination in a busy three-day clinic at a surgery in Harborough

More than 1,600 people have had a Covid-19 vaccination in a busy three-day clinic at a surgery in Market Harborough.

Almost 1,000 patients received their second Pfizer shot on Friday and Saturday at Market Harborough Medical Centre on Coventry Road and about 600 others got their first dose yesterday (Sunday).

Most of the recipients were aged over 80 as the NHS and Government steps up the nationwide mission to vaccinate the first four priority groups in the population by the end of next month.

The medical centre, which has about 25,000 registered patients from Market Harborough and surrounding villages, is now hoping to stage weekly inoculation sessions before too long.

Meanwhile, the first people in Harborough to receive the new life-saving Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine were overjoyed to receive their decisive second doses on Friday (January 8).

David Sanderson, 86, and his wife Susan, 74, a retired teacher, turned up early at Market Harborough Medical Centre on Coventry Road to join several hundred others getting their second jabs.

A retired carpenter and joiner, David, of Dingley, said: “We both feel very privileged to have received our second vaccinations so quickly after getting our first jabs just before Christmas.

“We were there before 8am and it was very well organised and drilled again at the surgery.

“The staff there did a fantastic job and we can’t thank them enough.

“It was brilliant and we couldn’t be happier.”

The thrilled dad-of-two and grandfather-of-five said they both now feel much safer as the infection rate of Covid-19 surges to record highs across Harborough as well as the entire UK.

“This virus is very dangerous.

“We both feel a lot safer now,” said David.

“This is a massive logistical exercise, the biggest vaccination programme ever carried out in our country’s history.

“So the Government and the NHS are doing an amazing job vaccinating thousands of people against this terrible illness.”

He said their daughter Emily, 45, was also vaccinated against Covid in Melton Mowbray on Friday.

“She works in the health industry and we are just so pleased and relieved that she’s had her jab too.

“I’d urge anyone offered the vaccination to go along and have it straight away,” said David.

“I can’t understand why anybody would turn it down – this is a real life-saver.”