The NHS launches a new large scale Covid-19 vaccination centre at the old Paddock Road Surgery in Harleston on Sunday 28 February 2021, as part of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history. 

The centre provides an additional option to the large scale vaccination centres already delivering vaccines in Kings Lynn, Norwich, Attleborough, North Walsham and Lowestoft; and the 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 an additional large scale vaccination centre at the old Paddock Road surgery in Harleston; joining the centres already successfully delivering this life saving vaccination across Norfolk and Waveney.”

“The centres are capable of delivering thousands of vaccines a week and provide a major boost to our plans to offer protection to those who would benefit most as quickly as possible.

“We’d like to say an enormous thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers for their incredible hard work, and also to colleagues at the Harleston Medical Practice and SST Medical Properties for letting us use their premises for this vital vaccination programme.”

People aged 64 and over who have received a letter can now book a vaccination at a time and location that is convenient to them by going online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.  Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.   

New appointments are regularly added to the booking system, so please keep checking if you don’t immediately see an appointment in a suitable location for you.  Alternatively, people can choose to wait to be contacted by their local GP services.

Melanie Craig, Chief Executive, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group added:

“NHS staff, supported by volunteers and health professionals that have returned to the NHS 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. 

“Latest published data confirms more than 40% of Norfolk and Waveney’s most vulnerable patients have received their first Covid-19 vaccine and this new centre will help us vaccinate more people. 

“Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine; we will contact you. If you receive a letter inviting you to book your first Covid-19 dose via the national booking system, you can do this or choose to wait for your local GP practice to contact you to book an appointment at a site closer to you; there are options available.

"When you are contacted, please attend your booked appointments. It is vital that you do not attend the old Paddock Road surgery 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; it’s also vital for people that have had a dose of the vaccine to continue following the same guidance.”

The old Paddock Road surgery is situated behind the Co-op, not far from the main Harleston Medical Practice premises which are located in front of the Co-op.  To avoid any impact on patients and colleagues at the Harleston Medical Practice – who will not be able to answer queries about our large scale vaccination service - we ask that people park in the Co-op car park, the entrance to which is currently from Paddock Road.  The Co-op car park is free of charge.  Please do not park in the old Paddock Road Surgery car park unless you are a disabled driver or passenger.

A one way traffic flow system has recently been introduced in the immediate vicinity of the Harleston Medical Practice and the old Paddock Road Surgery vaccination centre.  Sat Nav references should therefore not be used.  When arriving in Harleston, people should follow the highway signs for the vaccination centre which will direct them to the Co-op car park via Swan Lane, Weavers Croft and Paddock Road.  The vaccination centre is less than a minute’s walk from the Co-op car park.  When leaving the car park, please exit via Bullock Fair Close and left onto The Thoroughfare one-way system.