The NHS launches its first vaccination centre in Norfolk today at the Castle Quarter shopping centre in Norwich as part of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.  The centre provides an additional option to the vaccination hubs already successfully delivering vaccinations in local hospitals and by GPs across the county.

Dr David Vickers, Medical Director, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust which is co-ordinating delivery of the large vaccination centres across Norfolk and Waveney said: “We are delighted to be launching the first large vaccination centre in Norwich on 18 January 2021. The live saving jab will initially be offered to people aged 80 and over, along with health and care staff.”

“The Centre is capable of delivering thousands of vaccines in the coming weeks and provides a major boost to our plans to offer protection to those who would benefit most as quickly as possible.”  

Letters are being sent out by the national booking service to people aged 80 and over who live up to a 45 minute drive from the centre, inviting them to book an appointment either online or over the phone.

Robert Bradley, centre manager of Castle Quarter said: “Castle Quarter has stayed open throughout both lockdowns, enabling essential retailers and services to remain available for customers in a safe way in line with national criteria. We are now extremely pleased and proud to be able to support the NHS and community of Norfolk by opening up the entire food court in Castle Quarter for the county’s first vaccination centre.”  

Melanie Craig, Chief Executive, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group added: “NHS staff are doing an incredible job to deliver what it is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as providing vital services for people who need our care.  An increasing number of Norfolk and Waveney’s most vulnerable patients have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and this new centre will accelerate progress even further.

“Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine; we will contact you. When you are contacted, please attend your booked appointments. It is vital that you do not attend the Castle Quarter vaccination centre if you do not have an appointment as you will not be able to receive a vaccination.

“I urge people across Norfolk and Waveney to continue following all the guidance to control the virus and save lives – that means staying at home as much as you can, and always remembering ‘hands, face and space’.”

ENDS

Editors notes:

Covid-19 vaccinations are now being delivered across Norfolk – by appointment only - through:

• Hospital Hubs at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust and the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• The Vaccination Centres at Castle Quarter with more centres coming on line in the coming weeks
• Local Vaccine Services – provided by GPs and Pharmacies – for more information on these services contact the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group via nwccg.communications@nhs.net

Who will deliver vaccinations

The Department for Health and Social Care recently changed legislation to allow a wider group of people than usual to administer vaccines, including more health care professionals as well as others who have completed the clinical training needed to administer vaccines. 

Priority groups determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI)

• residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
• all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
• all those 75 years of age and over
• all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
• all those 65 years of age and over
• all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
• all those 60 years of age and over
• all those 55 years of age and over
• all those 50 years of age and over