Teams of vaccinators will begin vaccinating people aged over 80, plus health and care staff, at a site in Shepton Mallet from this week.

Between Christmas and new year, Covid-19 vaccinations will begin at the Shape Mendip District Council offices in Shepton Mallet.

The GP-led vaccination site has been developed by a group of local GP practices who have been working closely together to develop detailed plans to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations in community locations.

Dr Amelia Randle, GP at Park Medical Practice in Shepton Mallet and vaccination lead for the Central Mendip primary care network, said: "We are delighted to be starting the vaccination programme for our most vulnerable patients.

"It has been a huge amount of work, in a short space of time, but we have seen fantastic team work from all our colleagues from neighbouring GP practices and, together, we have been able to set up the next local vaccination services.

"It has been a very emotional time, not only for the first patients to be invited to the clinic, but for all the health and care teams involved in the planning of these events.

"We know that lots of people are eager to find out when they may be vaccinated, or have questions about the vaccination programme, but, please don't contact your local GP surgery – we will contact you when the time is right and we will be able to answer all of your questions when you come for your appointment."

Meanwhile, vaccinators are preparing to begin vaccinating care home residents and staff between Christmas and new year.

Joint senior responsible officer for the Somerset Covid-19 vaccination programme, Andy Heron, said: "I am delighted that we are taking the vaccine to care homes to protect our older residents and those who care for them.

"Care home residents and workers have been identified as priority groups to receive the vaccine by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and it is important that we deliver the vaccine to these groups to protect the most vulnerable in our county.

"My thanks go to everyone who has made this possible. Teams of people from GP surgeries, Somerset County Council, Somerset CCG, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have worked through the exceptionally complex logistics to deliver the long-awaited vaccine to the people of Somerset and it is very fulfilling to see it delivered to local people."

Dave Partlow, Somerset County Council's strategic manager for adult social care who is part of the Somerset vaccination programme, said: "I am working closely with our care home managers and we cannot wait to begin the roll out of the vaccine to our most vulnerable residents.

"We are starting with larger homes that care for people with dementia because higher rates of Covid-19 can occur in these homes where it is more difficult to contain.

"However, I want to be really clear with our message to all other care homes – this is just the start of our vaccination programme and we will come to you as soon as possible."