HEALTHCARE bosses are warning residents to be aware of fraudulent calls and texts offering the coronavirus vaccination.

The warning comes after some people received suspicious messages asking if they wished to receive the jab and disclose personal details.

The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to those in priority groups and the health service will contact people when it is their turn.

Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime.

NHS South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group chair Dr David Spraggett said: “We want people to be alert to potential scams and realise the NHS will not ask you for bank details, to press a number on your keypad or to send a text asking you to confirm you want the vaccine.

“At this time, the NHS is currently only contacting people in the top priority group – patients aged 80 and over, care home staff and care home residents to receive the vaccine.

“When it is your turn to receive the vaccine, you will be contacted by the NHS and invited into a local vaccination hub.”

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent hang up and call 0300 123 2040 to speak to Action Fraud.

If you are worried someone has or might come to your house call 101 to speak to police.

Original article published by the Leamington Observer on 13 January 2021.

To read the full article by the Leamington Observer click here.

A hotline has been launched to report COVID fraudsters by the Government & Independent Charity Crime Stoppers. Find out more information about this hotline by clicking this link - GOV.UK/new-hotline-launched

For latest Government advice regarding COVID please visit their website by clicking this link - GOV.UK/coronavirus

For the latest Warwickshire COVID information please visit the County Councils website by clicking this link - Warwickshire.gov.uk/information-coronavirus

We also have some useful information on our website regarding COVID, this can be accessed by clicking this link - Covid-19