A local vaccination service has opened at King’s Meadow Campus (the old Central TV studios) in Nottingham City.
The site which opened today will support the roll out of the national vaccination programme.
Over the weekend, another site at Cripps Health Centre in Nottingham City opened with more set to go live in the coming days and weeks.
Today, 81-year-old John Armstrong from Bramcote received the vaccine at the King’s Meadow Campus.
Luke Halls, a first year Physiotherapy student at the University of Nottingham was one of the people vaccinating at the site today and spoke about how he felt to be involved in the programme.
He said: “It feels really humbling. For me as a first year Physio student, it just allows me to make a difference. You can play your part at the moment by following the rules but this is actually making a big difference and it’s how we are going to see our way out of this crisis.
“I got the opportunity from my clinical lecturers and just thought it would be a really good thing to take on.”
All NHS partners, the University and local authorities across the healthcare system have been working together to prepare for the opening of the local vaccination service at King’s Meadow Campus.
Recipients of the vaccine will be called forward in priority order as set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The NHS will send letters to eligible people in due course and vaccines will be by appointment only. First priority at King’s Meadow Campus is for those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers.
Letters are now being sent to every over 80 year old locally offering them a Covid-19 vaccine. If letters have not yet been received, they will be in the next few days. The letter will have full details of how to make an appointment. Once you have received a letter, please make your appointment as quickly as possible.
Health bosses have asked the public not to call their GP or turn up at A&E or their doctor’s surgery to seek a vaccine.
Dr Hugh Porter, a doctor at Cripps Health Centre and Clinical Director and Interim Lead at Nottingham City Integrated Care Partnership said “It’s brilliant to see another local vaccination service open as we continue to roll out the programme across our city and county and prioritise vaccination for those most at risk first.
“We understand that many people want to be vaccinated and ask the public to work with us and be patient. When it is your turn to have the vaccine, you will receive a letter from the NHS with instructions on how to book so please don’t contact your GP practice or turn up to A&E.
“When you do receive your letter, please make your appointment as quickly as possible.”
The University of Nottingham’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “The delivery of these vaccines, starting with our healthcare heroes and the most vulnerable in our society, offer us all the hope that one day soon we will be able to come together again with family, friends and colleagues.
“Seeing the way in which our University community has risen to the challenge of Covid-19 from the start of the pandemic – whether it be through working to develop new vaccines, volunteering to support our local communities or leading numerous research studies to increase our understanding of the virus and its impact – has been a constant source of inspiration to me.
“The efforts of our staff and students who have helped to support NHS colleagues in the roll-out of the vaccination programme have been truly outstanding.”
The public have an important part to play to help:
• please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
• when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments;
• and please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.
