TESCO Pharmacy in Crewe is set to become a Covid vaccination centre.

Five new pharmacy-led vaccination services have been confirmed by Cheshire health chiefs to support the next phase of the county's vaccine roll-out.

From Monday, May 24 the pharmacy in the Vernon Way Tesco Extra store will be offering vaccinations by appointment.

The Crewe site will be joined that week by Well Pharmacy in Barnton near Northwich and a pharmacy working out of Hartford Methodist Church.

This week pharmacy-led services started at Nantwich Masonic Lodge and Vicar's Cross United Reformed Church in Chester.

The expansion of the vaccine programme comes as the High Sheriff of Cheshire Robert Mee paid tribute to staff involved in the scheme and bestowed an award to NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who have overseen the Cheshire roll-out.

On a visit to a GP-led vaccination service in Middlewich, Mr Mee praised the work of health and care staff and reserved special praise for the role of volunteers.

"It is impossible not to be impressed by the incredible teamwork of the CCG, primary care, local authorities and other partners which has helped to save thousands of lives," he said. "There are those on the front line, the health and care staff, fire and rescue officers and so many others that have worked on a scale never seen before.

"And then there are our wonderful volunteers. Time and again I hear from friends and colleagues about the welcome in the car park and the cheery comments which put those who are nervous at ease.

"Guiding people through their jabbing journey to feel, at last, that they are starting to be protected against this dreadful disease."

Since Mona Thomas, 92, became the first person in Cheshire to receive a vaccination on December 8 last year, Cheshire's services have successfully vaccinated hundreds of thousands of residents.

Everyone aged 50 plus, all frontline health and care workers, unpaid carers and anyone aged 16 to 64 with an underlying health condition have been offered a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Anyone who is eligible, but yet to take up a Covid-19 vaccination, can arrange their appointments online here or by calling 119.

Sandbach GP Dr Andrew Wilson said: "Fantastic progress has been made with the vaccination programme, but there remains much to do with many first and second doses still outstanding, some younger people yet to become eligible and the potential for booster jabs later in the year."