End of an era as Mass Vaccination Centre shuts its doors
Since it opened in early 2021, the site at the Lincolnshire Showground – one of two Mass Vaccination Centres in Lincolnshire - has played a major part in the county’s covid vaccination programme.
“What the team at the Showground have achieved is truly phenomenal and I want to thank all of them who have been involved over the last year or so for making such a difference to the lives of so many people,” comments Rebecca Neno, Director of Covid and Influenza Vaccination Programmes, NHS Lincolnshire CCG.
“The closure of the site at the Showground is testament to the success of the covid vaccination programme and the support shown for it by Lincolnshire people. It also reflects the return to some kind of life as normal, although the NHS in the county will maintain its capacity to offer covid vaccinations both locally in Lincoln and around the county, to ensure that everybody who is eligible for and wants a covid vaccination can get one,” adds Rebecca.
Although covid case numbers are currently falling, which is in no small part thanks to the protection getting vaccinated provides, the experience of the last two years suggests they could rise again.
“And this is why, in addition to maintaining the appropriate capacity to vaccinate, we also need to have the agility to respond to changing case numbers. Whilst our fixed vaccination sites will continue to play an important role, being able to set up pop-up vaccination sessions at short notice will also remain key and many of our team from the Showground will support these sessions and other vaccination sites going forwards,” explains Rebecca.
“Not only do pop-up sessions allow us to focus on specific areas and take the vaccinations out to people, our experience of running them over the last year or so suggests that people like the flexibility of being able to choose to turn up without an appointment and get vaccinated.
“So pop-ups will remain a key part of what we offer, including in and around Lincoln, and you can get more details on the pop-ups we’re running, as well as other useful information about the vaccination programme in Lincolnshire, from our website www.lincolnshireccg.nhs.uk/grabajab.
“On the other hand if you would prefer to have the certainty of booking an appointment for your covid vaccination at our other sites, you can still do this using the National Booking System or by calling 119.”
The vaccination teams will be running the following pop-up walk-in sessions:
Friday 29th April at Bud Robinson Community Centre, Maple Street, Bracebridge, Lincoln LN5 8QS, between 10am and 4pm – spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over.
Saturday 30th April at St Faith’s Church Hall, 6 Charles Street, Lincoln LN1 1QL, between 10am and 4pm - spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 12 and over.
Sunday 1st May at Ruston Sports and Social Club, Newark Road, Lincoln LN6 8RN, between 10am and 4pm for 5-11 year-olds, and between 4.30pm and 7pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over.
Sunday 1st May at Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding PE11 3DT, between 10am and 4pm for 5-11 year-olds.
Monday 2nd May at Nettleham Village Hall, Brookfield Avenue, Nettleham LN2 2SS, between 10am and 4pm for 5-11 year-olds and 12-15 year-olds only.
Tuesday 3rd May at Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY, between 10am and 3pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over, and between 3.30pm and 6.30pm for 5-11 year-olds and 12-15 year-olds.
Wednesday 4th May at Birchwood Boiler House, 278 Woodfield Avenue, Birchwood, Lincoln LN6 0LT, between 10am and 4pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over.
Wednesday 4th May at Billingborough Village Hall, Chapel Street, Billingborough NG34 0QH, between 10am and 4pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over.
Friday 6th May at The Venue, Grantham Road, Navenby LN5 0JJ, between 10am and 4pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over.
Friday 6th May at Long Sutton Church Hall, Market Place, Long Sutton PE12 9JE, between 10am and 4pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over, plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over.
Saturday 7th May at St Faith’s Church Hall, West Parade, Lincoln LN1 1QL, between 10am and 1pm for spring boosters for people aged 75 and over plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over, and between 1.30pm and 3.30pm for 5-11 year-olds and 12-15 year-olds.
Sunday 8th May at Ruston Sports and Social Club, Newark Road, Lincoln LN6 8RN, for 5-11 year-olds between 10am and 4pm, and spring boosters for people aged 75 and over plus vaccinations for anyone eligible aged 16 and over between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
For more information visit www.lincolnshireccg.nhs.uk/grabajab
