An arrangement has been reached to source 3,200 Covid-19 vaccinations from another North West mass vaccination hub following a logistical problem on Tuesday.

The additional vaccines are coming from the Chester mass vaccination centre, located at Chester Racecourse.

The shortage would have meant 3,000 vulnerable people in cohort six – that is, adults aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions – having their vaccinations postponed.

It was due to an NHS England procedure that meant the four personal care networks (PCNs) at the Totally Wicked Stadium were counted as one.

Each PCN equates to 30,000 to 50,000 patients, meaning the centre only receives a quarter of the vaccines necessary to cover the entire GP-led clinic downstairs. It usually relies on mutual aid from the mass vaccination centre upstairs to cover any shortages, but with cohort seven – people aged 60+ – being called for vaccinations, the supply simply wasn’t available.

MP for St Helens South & Whiston Marie Rimmer addressed Health Secretary Matt Hancock in Parliament yesterday about the shortage.

She said: “Over 3,000 clinically vulnerable people in cohort six are going to have their vaccinations cancelled in St Helens at the end of this week. This is unless the required supplies are delivered by Thursday lunchtime.

“The vaccine site is serving four primary care networks, yet the national supply team is only recognising and supplying one network. The mutual aid gathered to cover this shortfall in the past is no longer available.

“Will the Secretary of State please urgently intervene to address this misunderstanding so that no vaccinations are cancelled?”

The Health Secretary responded that he wanted to see the issue sorted “ASAP” and would have Minister for Vaccine Rollout Nadhim Zahawi get in touch.

St Helens CCG posted an update on its social media on Wednesday morning. It said: “We’ve managed to secure additional vaccines from another mass vaccination site, meaning that patients can attend their appointment as usual this week.

“At his stage the GP-led vaccination clinic is giving first dose of the vaccine for those in priority cohort six which is those who are ‘clinically vulnerable’ focusing on those with diabetes, learning disabilities and […] mental ill health. We’ll also be aiming to vaccinate carers once we have supply.”

MP for St Helens North Conor McGinn was at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Tuesday.

He praised the staff and volunteers involved in the vaccine rollout, and said he “couldn’t wait” to be called for his jab.

Anyone in cohorts five, six or seven can book their vaccinations online now using the national booking service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine