The national NHS Vaccination Centre will open in York tomorrow (Monday, 18 January).
It’s an extended version of the existing centre at Askham Bar, which has been giving York people the Covid-19 vaccination jab since December.
From Monday, the centre will offer additional vaccinations to people from across the region – up to a 45-minute drive away.
But you have to be invited – so don’t just turn up.
This will operate in addition to the GP-led vaccination service. York residents will continue to receive their vaccinations in line with the government’s priority groups.
Both services will be managed by Nimbuscare – a collaboration of local GPs called which already runs the local vaccination service.
Speed up delivery
Prof Mike Holmes, chair of Nimbuscare, is the clinical lead for the NHS Vaccination Centre.
He said: “This is excellent news for York. Establishing York as one of the main NHS Vaccination Centres will speed up the delivery of vaccines to those most at risk.
“It will create more jobs and put us at the centre of one of the largest and most important vaccination programmes in the history of the NHS.
“Now that more doses of Covid-19 are available, the NHS has been able to open more vaccination services and we are proud to be chosen to be the first Vaccination Centres in Yorkshire.
“Healthcare workers from across the City – GPs, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and others – have worked tirelessly to get this service up and running.
“We have already vaccinated a significant number of local patients and staff and we are ready to welcome more people to come for their jab so they can protect their family and friends from this dreadful virus.”