Two new COVID vaccination hubs opening in Cambridgeshire

The first, located at The Oak Tree Centre, 1 Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN is opening today, while the second, located at Unit 55 (former supermarket), Horsefair Shopping Centre, Churchill Road, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1AR will open on Friday.

The centres provide an additional option 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’.”

For more information about the vaccine roll out, visit https://www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/covid-19-national-vaccination-programme/