by
Sarah Turner
| Feb 01, 2021
The NHS launches two large scale Covid-19 vaccination centres in Huntingdon and Wisbech this week as part of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history. The centres will be located at:
- The Oak Tree Centre, 1 Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN from Monday 1 February 2021
- Unit 55 (former supermarket), Horsefair Shopping Centre, Churchill Road, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1AR from Friday 5 February 2021
The centres provide an additional option to the large scale vaccination centre in the Grafton Shopping Centre Cambridge and 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 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “We are delighted to be launching large vaccination centres in Huntingdon and Wisbech; joining the centre already successfully delivering this life saving vaccination at the Grafton Shopping Centre Cambridge. Further centres will roll out in the coming weeks.
“The centres are capable of delivering thousands of vaccines in the coming weeks and provide 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 in the priority groups as determined by the national Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) who live up to a 45 minute drive from the centres, inviting them to book an appointment at their closest Centre either online or over the phone.
We’d encourage everyone to book an appointment when they receive a letter but if anyone has already received a jab since the letter was sent out please disregard it.
If people would prefer to wait to be invited to attend a hospital or GP service, they are able to do so, or if they already have an appointment booked for their vaccination with a hospital or GP service they can choose to keep the appointment with their hospital or GP.
Dr Gary Howsam, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group Chair and local GP 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.
“Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine; we will contact you. When you are contacted, please attend your booked appointment. Appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are urged not to turn up early to avoid queues.
“It is vital that you do not attend the Oak Tree Centre or the Horsefair Shopping Centre vaccination centres if you do not have an appointment as you will not be able to receive a vaccination.”
“I urge people across Cambridgeshire 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
Editor's notes:
Covid-19 vaccinations are now being delivered across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – by appointment only - through:
- Hospital Hubs at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge; the Peterborough City Hospital; and Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon.
- The Vaccination Centres at The Grafton Shopping Centre, Cambridge; the City Care Centre, Peterborough; the Oak Tree Centre Huntingdon and the Horsefair Shopping Centre Wisbech with more centres coming on line in the comings weeks.
- Local Vaccine Services – provided by GPs and Pharmacies across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – for more information on these services visit: https://www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/covid-19-national-vaccination-programme/
How to find Unit 55 (former supermarket), Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech
Unit 55 is a former supermarket.
With car parking for nearly 400 cars and the close proximity of the bus station and taxi rank, the Horsefair Shopping Centre is easily accessible for residents and visitors alike. The post code for your sat nav is PE13 1AL.
Parking is free at the Shopping Centre for up to three hours Monday to Saturday (no charges apply on Sundays)
How to find the Oak Tree Centre, Huntingdon
A free car park is located opposite the Oak Tree Centre on Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon (sat nav: PE29 7LA). Limited additional parking is available immediately outside the front of the centre.
Huntingdon rail station is on Brampton Road, Huntingdon, PE29 3BP and is two miles from the Oak Tree Centre.
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) being invited initially to attend Vaccination Centres:
- 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