Dr David Vickers, medical director, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, which delivers the large scale vaccination centres across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said:

“We have worked hard to deliver walk-in clinics from the Chesterton Indoor BowIs Vaccination Centre but unfortunately, predominantly due to parking constraints, we have made the decision to close the centre to walk-ins from Thursday 2 December 2021.”

“People who are eligible for vaccines or boosters can continue to book appointments at the Chesterton Indoor Bowls Centre (or any other large scale vaccination centre) via www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine”

Commenting on the recent national expansion of the vaccination programme, including offering all over-18s a booster jab, Dr Vickers added:

“This is the biggest change in eligibility since the programme was launched.  Whilst changes to the national booking system are put in place, we are urging people in this new group not to visit our vaccination centres and wait to be invited as our staff will not be able to vaccinate them.”

Dr Gary Howsam, Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“We strongly encourage people who are eligible to come forward for their booster or vaccination.  The vast majority of those being hospitalised with serious illness from Covid-19 are those who have not been vaccinated.  We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to arrange their first, second, third primary or booster dose now. 

“Vaccines are the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones and reducing covid-related hospital admissions will help the NHS cope better during the winter months and reduce disruption to routine and planned care.”

Further information on walk-in vaccination services is available at www.thevaccinators.co.uk

End

Editors notes:

Large scale vaccination centres are open seven days a week for walk-in clinics at the following locations:

• Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1AR 
• The Grafton Centre, Cambridge CB1 1PS

• The Eatons Community Centre, Eaton Socon, St Neots PE19 8ES

• The Oaktree Centre, 1 Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN
• Queensgate Shopping Centre, PeterboroughPE1 1NT

Chesterton Indoor Bowls Centre, Logan’s Way, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1BL does not provide walk-in clinics. Appointments can be booked at this site (and all other large scale vaccination centres) via nhs.uk/covidvaccine

Who is eligible for a booster jab six months after their second jab:

• people aged 40 and over
• people who live and work in care homes
• frontline health and social care workers
• people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
• People who are pregnant and in 1 of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

Who is eligible for a second dose:

• People aged 18+ (8 weeks after their first dose)
• People aged 16-17 (12 weeks after their first dose)

• People aged 12-17 (8 weeks after their first dose) in the following categories:
  • with health conditions that put them at higher risk from COVID-19 (bringing with them an NHS confirmation letter)
  • who are young carers
  • who are frontline health or social care workers; or
  • who live with someone who is immunosuppressed

  Note: 12-15 year olds not in the high risk groups outlined above are currently eligible for one dose only

  Who is eligible for a third primary dose eight weeks after your second dose:

   A third primary dose of a Covid-19 vaccine is being offered to people aged 12 and over who had a weakened immune system when they had their first 2 doses.  This includes people who had or have the following conditions who must bring with them an NHS confirmation letter:A blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)

• A weakened immune system due to a treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
• An organ or bone marrow transplant
• A condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections
• A condition of treatment your specialist advises makes you eligible for a third dose