The COVID-19 vaccination centre at Beetley Ward, Dereham Hospital is closing on Sunday 31^st July and moving to Kelling Hospital in Holt.

Dr David Vickers, Medical Director, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, explained:

“So as not to duplicate provision, our Beetley Ward vaccination site will be closing permanently on Sunday 31^st July and our fantastic vaccination team will continue to deliver jabs to everyone eligible from the Lascelles Ward at Kelling Hospital in Holt from Friday 5^th August.

“Vaccines remain our best line of defence against coronavirus, and we thank those who have already had their COVID-19 vaccination.

“We’ve currently administered more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine as part of the largest and most successful vaccination programme in NHS history, however it’s not too late for anyone who’s eligible to be vaccinated - you can simply walk-in or book an appointment online via the National Booking Service or by ringing 119 free of charge.”

There is still plenty of opportunity for Norfolk and Waveney residents, including children from the age of five, to get their first, second or third primary dose (if they were immunosuppressed at the time they had these).

In addition, people 75 and older, and those aged 12 years and older who are severely immunosuppressed, are encouraged to come forward for their Spring booster as soon as possible if they haven’t already done so.

The vaccination centre at Kelling Hospital will be open on Tuesdays from 8:30am until 8pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30am until 4pm, and will offer booked appointments, as well as operate as a walk-in venue with no appointment needed.

Dereham residents will be able to continue to access their COVID vaccine at Swanton Morley Surgery in Dereham Road, Dereham NR20 4LT and bookings can be made via the National Booking Service.

Howard Martin, Director of Population Health Management NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board said:

“We are really pleased that so many people in Norfolk and Waveney have had their COVID-19 vaccination.

“For those who have yet to have their COVID-19 vaccination, we have made it even easier for you to attend one of our sites. Our pop-up clinics mean that you don’t need to book, you just turn up.

“We cannot recommend enough the importance of everyone, regardless of your age, having their vaccination to protect themselves, their family, and the local community.”

End

Editors’ notes:

Those who have recently recovered from Covid should still come forward for their vaccination as having had the virus does not give the same levels of protection. Anyone over 18 who has had Covid will need to wait four weeks before having any dose of the vaccine, or 12 weeks for those aged 5 to 17.

Which people aged 12 and over are in the immunosuppressed category?

People aged 12 and over who are immunosuppressed include those who have had or have:

• 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 or treatment your specialist advises makes you eligible for an additional dose

Notes on vaccinations for 5-11-year-olds

All 5-11-year-olds will be offered two 10 microgram doses of the Pfizer vaccine; a third of the amount used for adult vaccinations.

Parents and guardians are asked to attend the vaccination centre with their children and are asked to read the patient information available.

An animation is also available to help children know what to expect when they visit our vaccination centres.

Norfolk large-scale vaccination centres

Large-scale vaccination centres are open seven days a week 8.30 am to 4.00 pm and some late evenings at the following locations:

• Paddock Road Surgery, Paddock Road, Harleston IP20 9AT (closed on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays from 4^th July-5^th September)
• Connaught Hall, Station Rd, Attleborough NR17 2AS
• Shakespeare Barn, King's Lynn Arts Centre, King Street, Kings Lynn PE30 1HA
• Norwich City Council HQ, St Peters Street, Norwich NR2 1NH
• Lascelles Ward, Kelling Hospital, High Kelling, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6QA (closed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)

Information on evening openings is available here: https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/WalkIn/Form/AllAvailableClinics or by calling 119.

Contact: Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Communications Team via ccs.communications@nhs.net