An MP has just had her first Covid jab and is encouraging all others to do the same.

Natalie Elphicke, 50, had it administered on Saturday and returned to the vaccination centre to thank those involved.

The Dover and Deal MP announced this today (Monday), the date of a major lifting of lockdown restrictions.

She thanked local health professionals for their work in setting up the centre in Maison Dieu Road.

She also thanked Dr Sanchia Braganza from St Richard’s Road Surgery, Deal, who administered her jab, plus volunteers from the Rotary Club of South Foreland who guide patients inside the vaccination site.

Anybody who is aged 50 years and over can now book their first inoculation, in addition to the clinically vulnerable and other priority groups.

Appointments can be booked online, or by calling 119, or your GP will be in contact to book you in locally.

Mrs Elphicke joins more than 57,000 people in the Dover District who have now received a first dose.

She said she had a "quick and painless injection."

Mrs Elphicke continued: "A huge thanks to Dr Julian Mead, Dr Tuan Nguyen and all at the Channel Health Alliance for their tremendous work in delivering thousands of vaccines across our community in the Dover centre, as well as care homes and the housebound over the last few months.

“This has been a huge endeavour involving all of our GP surgeries across the whole constituency, who have worked tirelessly to meet a demanding national agenda to get people protected.

“The Rotary Club of South Foreland have played an essential part in the national effort by volunteering all day, every day, to make people welcome at the Dover centre.

"I was pleased to be able to thank Rotary Club president Peter West and his wife Eileen for all the work undertaken by the Rotary Club to support our community vaccination programme."

Inoculations are also taking place at the Clockwork Pharmacy in Deal High Street.

Mrs Elphicke took and passed an asymptomatic Covid test when they began in Dover in January and again asked others to do it.

Today's easing of restrictions means that up to six people or members of two household can meet outdoors.

Open air sports can also restart.

Final major restrictions are expected to end on June 21, subject to infection rates declining sufficiently.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

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