Staff and volunteers at the Covid-19 vaccination centre based at Bath Racecourse have been celebrating delivering their 200,000th jab.
The vaccination centre at Bath Racecourse | Photo © RUH
Since opening in January, staff have been working flat out to meet demand, regularly delivering more than 1,000 jabs a day, many of them potentially life-saving.
The team have been vaccinating all eligible cohorts as well as dealing with an increase in demand for booster vaccines, which means that the site may soon be delivering closer to 1,500 jabs a day.
The site has been staffed by RUH workers and a team of volunteers who have given up their time to help with the vaccine roll out.
Gill May, Director of Nursing and Quality at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This really is an incredible achievement and everyone at the racecourse is delighted we’ve reached this milestone.
“I would like to thank everyone involved with the centre – staff and volunteers – for their incredible dedication – we wouldn’t have been able to reach this vaccination total without their commitment and hard work.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has visited the vaccination centre to get their jab – by doing so you are helping to keep yourself, family and friends safe from serious illness.”
With the vaccination centre already busy, and expected to get busier in the coming weeks, people are being asked to book their appointment to save them having to queue for too long.
Residents are being urged to wait to be invited for their booster by the NHS.
Currently, booster vaccines are only available for people over the age of 40, those with an underlying health condition and frontline health and social care workers.
As soon as this changes, the NHS will invite those who qualify for a booster vaccine to come forward.
Gill added: “We really do recommend booking your appointment in advance, it will save you having to wait around for too long once you arrive at the vaccination centre.
“New slots are being added all the time, so if you can’t find a time and day to suit you at first keep checking the website for updates.
“If you do have an appointment but then can’t attend, please make sure you cancel it on the national booking system so someone else can use that slot to get vaccinated.
“If you prefer to get your jab as a walk-in, please do be prepared to wait and please stay polite and be patient with our staff who are doing their very best to help you.
‘Please also check with the vaccination centre before setting off – walk-in vaccinations are not available on all days and sessions can close if they reach capacity.”
