A HEALTH boss has welcomed the ‘smooth’ start to the roll-out of East Lancashire’s coronavirus vaccination programme.

Innoculations of residents aged 80 and over in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and Hyndburn boroughs by GPs started this week.

Dr Mark Dziobon, a Burnley family doctor and medical director for the clinical commissioning groups in Pennine Lancashire, said: “The roll-out of the vaccine gives us renewed hope moving into 2021.

“It is fantastic that we are now able to start delivering vaccinations in our local communities. The programme will continue to expand over the coming days, weeks and months.”

Dr Fiona Ford, clinical director for Hyndburn Central Primary Care Network which delivered 204 vaccinations on Tuesday, said: “We had put in place a considerable amount of planning and preparation. This has meant that the day ran smoothly and we vaccinated a considerable number of patients.”

Among the Hyndburn recipients were Alice Goulding from Central Accrington and Raymond Barnes from Clayton-le-Moors.

Thomas Patrick Barrett, 80, one of the first residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in Blackburn with Darwen as part of the GP programme, said: “I feel liberated. It means carrying in my life. It is very humbling to see how much work has been done by the NHS. I am thankful for all the efforts and determination. I am looking forward to life returning to normal.”

Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said:“This is a big step forwards towards recovery.”