The rollout of coronavirus vaccines across Bath and North East Somerset is continuing at pace following the opening of a mass-scale vaccination centre at Bath Racecourse.
Photo © Alex Gakos / Shutterstock.com
The venue, which opened to patients today, Monday 25th January, will be able to provide the life-saving vaccine on a significant scale.
All people currently eligible for a coronavirus vaccine, and living within a 45-minute drive of the venue, will be written to in the coming days with details of how to book an appointment.
Any person who receives a letter will then be able to choose whether to have the vaccine at Bath Racecourse, or to wait to be invited to a GP-led vaccination clinic, which could be at a GP practice or other community venue.
The new large-scale centre, which will be open seven days a week, has been designed to offer people who are able to travel an alternative, potentially faster, route to receiving the coronavirus vaccine.
Salisbury City Hall has also been opened as a vaccination centre.
Gill May, Director of Nursing and Quality, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG, said: “I’m delighted to announce the opening of these two large-scale vaccination centres, which are the first of their kind in our region.
“Getting these two venues up and running with the help of our community and voluntary sector partners, such as St John’s Ambulance and 3SG, will allow us to provide even more opportunities for people to get vaccinated in addition to what is already being offered at our GP-led sites.
“We know that many people in line for the vaccine are still very much mobile, and also incredibly eager to be vaccinated, and we hope these new venues will help us to carry out more vaccinations and ultimately protect more families from the heartbreak that is so often associated with coronavirus.”
Details of how to book an appointment at the venues are included in the letters that are being addressed to people in the region over the age of 80.
Those over the age of 70, along with frontline health and care workers, should also receive an invitation to either Salisbury or Bath in the coming weeks.
People are asked not to turn up at the venues without an appointment as the vaccination staff at Bath Racecourse will be unable to give the jab to any person without a pre-arranged vaccine slot.
Dr Bruce Laurence, Director of Public Health, Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “I am thrilled that this vaccination centre is open in our area and I would like to thank the NHS and the many volunteers and other staff who have worked so hard to make it happen.
“This centre will make a huge difference to our communities, saving lives, reducing pressure on the health service and, eventually, helping us all reclaim our freedoms.
“But please remember that even if you have had your vaccination, you may still be able to pass the virus on to others, so you must continue to follow all the rules and guidance. Remember: hands-face-space.”
Liam Johnson, Executive Director of Bath Racecourse, said: “We are really pleased to work with Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group to assist them in using our facilities to deliver vaccinations.
“We hope that this will be of benefit to many people around the community.”
First West of England will provide a dedicated service taking customers to and from the racecourse.
Service 32 from Bath Bus Station Stand 15 will run daily every 20 minutes from 7am to 8pm in the evening.
The journey will take approximately 15 minutes each way, with the last service returning from the Racecourse at 8.20pm.
The company has been working closely with Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Bath and North East Somerset Council to implement the direct service and help customers get to and from the venue quickly and easily.
Fares are normal First fares in the Bath Zone. Concessions will be extended to be valid on all journeys.
First Bath tickets are available through the First app and customers are encouraged to buy tickets in advance or pay contactless to make boarding as safe and easy as possible.
Rob Sanderson, Operations Manager, Bath, said: “Whilst there is a reasonable amount of parking at the Racecourse, there are of course many people who will have to rely on public transport to get to and from the site, which is why we felt it was so important to put on a dedicated service throughout the day that serviced the same hours as it will be operating.”
