Leeds hospitals warn of vaccine appointment hoax as people urged not to turn up to centres

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has warned that a message is circulating on the app which falsely claims the public can book an appointment at vaccination centres in Leeds.

The Elland Road and Thackray Museum vaccination centres are currently only open to frontline NHS social care and health workers.

Members of the public cannot book a vaccine appointment at any site unless they are a priority group and have been directly contacted by their GP.

In a tweet, a spokesperson for the trust said: "Elland Rd and Thackray Museum vaccination centres are open to *frontline* health and care workers only.

"A hoax is circulating on WhatsApp - if you have booked an appointment via the link and you aren't a frontline HCW please cancel your booking.

"Please do not come to the vaccine centres."

The trust continued: "A message has been circulating that falsely claims the public can book a vaccine appointment. This is not true.

"Only frontline health and social care staff can have their vaccine at our hubs as per the JCVI guidelines."

Leeds United opened its Centenary Pavilion as a mass vaccination centre last week - but only to NHS social care and health workers.

In addition to NHS and social care staff, vaccinations taking place immediately at the centre will include dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, funeral directors and private health and care providers across the city, as set out in the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI) guidance.

The centre will not open to the wider public until a later date, as yet unannounced.

Elland Road is one of four major centres in West Yorkshire, along with Jacob’s Well in Bradford; The John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield and Spectrum Community Healthcare CIC in Wakefield.

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