Another COVID-19 vaccination site will go live on the Isle of Wight later this month, the NHS has officially confirmed.
The Riverside Centre in Newport will join Carisbrooke Medical Centre, West Wight Sports Centre, Westridge Centre and The Bay Medical Practice in offering jabs to the Island’s population.
Unlike the vaccination sites elsewhere on the Island, the Riverside Centre will be classed as a Vaccination Centre meaning that it will deal with more Islanders per day – expected to be in the region of 500 people on weekdays. It is expected to open on or around 25th January.
As reported by Island Echo, NHS and social care staff on the Isle of Wight have started to receive their coronavirus vaccine as the Isle of Wight NHS Trust launched its COVID-19 vaccination hub at St Mary’s Hospital.
Alison Smith, managing director of NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“The opening of an additional vaccination centre on the island is great news for our residents as this will greatly increase our capacity to vaccine people.
“Setting up the covid vaccination programme has been an enormous undertaking and the way that we have pulled together to make this happen has been fantastic.
“I absolutely need to pay tribute to all colleagues and volunteers. They have been phenomenal in pulling together and setting our clinics up with such speed and efficiency. I want to say a big thank you to them for all their hard work and share how proud I am of my colleagues for their incredible efforts.
Article continues below this advertisement “As we accelerate our vaccination programme, we remain focused on delivering to our over 80 year olds, care homes and those working for health and care.
“We still have covid-19 circulating in our communities and so we need to do all we can to keep ourselves and each other safe.
“I remind everyone to continue to wash their hands for 20 seconds regularly, to wear a face covering when required and to maintain social distancing of two metres.”
Initially, vaccinations are being offered to people in line with recommendations from the independent JCVI. The NHS will contact people when it is their turn. People will need an appointment to get their vaccine; most people will be invited by letter from their GP practice or the national programme.
Great news. But I hope Ryde gets a vaccination site very very soon. Its got the highest population and a large concentration of care homes.
https://www.islandecho.co.uk/covid-vaccinations-to-get-underway-in-ryde-and-shanklin/
Ryde already has a vaccination site, the Westridge Centre where Waltzing Waters used to be. Took my 86 year old mum there yesterday for her vaccination and it was all very slickly run. Quite impressed with the people on site there.
vaccine centre at the Riverside will be ready on 15 January, but we may not get vaccine and sign off until 25 January or later. I have written to the Vaccine Minister and the Secretary of State on this issue and have been in near daily communication with them. This is public knowledge.”