Greg received his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine today after receiving his invitation from the NHS to book an appointment last week.

He booked his appointment at the Ticehurst Village Hall, which is hosting the vaccination centre run by local pharmacist Hardik Desai, in recognition of Ticehurst Pharmacy’s fantastic efforts in vaccinating many of Greg’s constituents in the rural part of the Tunbridge Wells constituency.

Ticehurst Pharmacy was one of the very first pharmacies in Britain to get involved in the vaccination programme in January and, alongside the Ridge Primary Care Network based in Headcorn, has been responsible for vaccinating the villages of the Weald, such as Hawkhurst, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst, after the GP network in these villages did not participate in the programme.

Speaking after receiving his vaccination Greg said:

“As Chairman of the Science Committee in the House of Commons I have interviewed the team behind the Oxford vaccine regularly throughout the last year. So it is a wonderful moment to be able to receive a vaccine that for a long time seemed a distant prospect.  

"I was very glad to be vaccinated by Hardik Desai’s team in Ticehurst. Supported by superbly organised volunteers they have worked hard to vaccinate thousands of people. Along with Dr Faye Hinsley at Headcorn, Hardik stepped up to ensure that vaccines would be available to my constituents in the rural villages.

“The vaccination programme is going brilliantly well and gives us a clear way out of the Covid crisis. As Chair of the Science Committee in Parliament I have questioned many experts and I have no doubt that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will save many lives. I hope that celebrating getting this vaccine myself reinforces this message.”