BASILDON Hospital is set to administer its first coronavirus vaccine today.

Those aged 80 or over are now being contacted by the hospital by text message.

And patients will be able to book online through a link provided in the text message or can call the dedicated booking line on 0333 0153 478.

A spokesman for the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals, said: “Due to the storage and transportation requirements of the vaccine, we are opening the Basildon Hospital vaccination centre first.

“We cannot confirm when the centres at Broomfield and Southend will be open, but currently expect this to be in a few weeks’ time.”

The rollout comes as the number of people to have died at Basildon Hospital during the pandemic rose to 430. 

That number is skewed because Basildon is the designated Covid-19 care hospital in south Essex and is therefore treating more patients than other hospitals. 

GPs and other primary care staff are also being put on standby to start delivering the jab. 

A small number of GP-led primary care centres will also begin administering the vaccine next week on a phased basis. 

Exact details of how that will work in south Essex are still being worked out. However it is understood venues such as leisure centres and conference facilities are being looked at as more doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and other vaccines, should they be approved, arrive in the UK. 

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Despite the huge complexities, hospitals will kickstart the first phase of the largest scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history from today. 

“The life-saving vaccine is typically delivered by a simple injection in the shoulder but there is a complex and difficult logistical challenge to deliver from the manufacturers Pfizer to patients.”

It needs to be stored at -70C before being thawed out and can only be moved four times within that cold chain before being used.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: “This coming week will be a historic moment as we begin vaccination against Covid-19.

“We are prioritising the most vulnerable first and over-80s, care home staff and NHS colleagues will all be among the first to receive the vaccines.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure we can overcome significant challenges to vaccinate care home residents as soon as possible too.

“I urge everybody to play their part to suppress this virus and follow the local restrictions to protect the NHS while they carry out this crucial work.”