Centres to bring hope

THE seven regional mass vaccination centres opening in England today in a programme that has established more than 1,000 sites will help us turn the tide against this awful virus.

Horrifically many more will die during this fightback, our hospitals are overflowing and infection rates soaring to frightening levels as the mutant coronavirus spreads rapidly.

But in the dark months ahead, as we are instructed to stay home and banned from seeing family and friends or doing things we loved such as going to the pub and shopping, the knowledge a way ahead is arriving can help make lockdown sacrifices feel worthwhile.

Because unless we slow and even halt the pandemic’s expansion in the next few weeks, the grim fact is thousands more will die before they are inoculated. The original slogan about staying at home to save the NHS and protect lives is as true today as the day the Government foolishly ditched it last summer.