GP issues simple message to everyone in Sheffield invited for coronavirus vaccine

Dr Anthony Gore from Woodseats Medical Centre said the vaccines – of which three have now been approved for use in the UK – are safe and tested, with NHS staff also happy to receive them.

"We like to think we know what we’re about,” he said.

Around 2.4 million people in the UK have now been given their first vaccine dose against Covid-19 and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government is on track to meet its target of 13 million people vaccinated by mid-February.

Dr Gore said: “We want to get as many people safe from harm from Covid as possible, as soon as possible.

"For those of you that have not yet had an invite and know that you are in groups that have not yet been invited, please stay safe at home.”

He added: “We know who we’re calling in what order so we will contact you, please don’t ring your GP practice.”

A University of Oxford study published last month found 72 per cent of respondents were willing to be vaccinated, but 16 per cent said they were ‘very unsure’ about receiving the vaccine.

One in twenty people described themselves as anti-vaccination for Covid-19.

A total of 5,114 adults took part in the study, representative of the UK population for age, gender, ethnicity, income, and region.

Daniel Freeman, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Oxford, said: “We may be close to a tipping point, when suspicion of vaccination becomes mainstream.”