Six employees at Chesterfield have received Covid-19 vaccinations, but the club insist they were only asked to come forward for the jabs to avoid wasting them.

The PA news agency understands three players and three members of staff at the National League club received vaccinations at short notice last week at the Stubley Medical Centre in Dronfield.

The club have been faced accusations of ‘queue-jumping’ with the vaccine currently being rolled out to the most vulnerable in society.

However, they insist most of the players and staff who received the vaccine were classed as vulnerable, and that the club were only contacted by the surgery to receive the Pfizer vaccine after “all other viable options” had been exhausted.

The club said in a statement: “A small number of Chesterfield players and staff – most of whom are classed as vulnerable people – have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“In line with the NHS’ directive – that doctors and staff have the discretion to ensure that they can make full use of any unused vaccines, rather than have any go to waste – the people concerned were called at very short notice to receive the vaccine.

“They were only contacted after the surgery had exhausted all other viable options. Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them.

“We continue to support the NHS’ brilliant work and have provided COVID-19 testing facilities at our stadium throughout the pandemic, so vital care can be administered.

“In line with the NHS’ directive – that doctors and staff have the discretion to ensure that they can make full use of any unused vaccines, rather than have any go to waste – the people concerned were called at very short notice to receive the vaccine.

“They were only contacted after the surgery had exhausted all other viable options. Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them.

“We continue to support the NHS’s brilliant work and have provided COVID-19 testing facilities at our stadium throughout the pandemic, so vital care can be administered.”

It is understood the surgery’s decision to contact the club came from previous conversations where the club had offered up their facilities as a vaccination centre.

The club were told that there were occasions where appointments became available at the last minute when all other options had been exhausted and that club staff could be ‘on standby’ to receive the vaccine.

NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group is investigating the matter, NHS England said.