Three Counties Showground vaccination centre to join the fight against Covid-19 in Herefordshire and Worcestershire
The Three Counties Showground, based in Malvern, Worcestershire, plans to open next week and is the fourth vaccination centre to open across the two counties.
This is another significant milestone in the growing vaccination programme across Herefordshire and Worcestershire following the opening of the Artrix Theatre in Bromsgrove, which opened in January and St Peter’s Baptist Church in Worcester and Elgar House in Hereford opening last month.
The site at the Three Counties is being run by SW Healthcare and plans to begin vaccinations from Tuesday 2 March. SW Healthcare, who also run the Artrix Theatre and St Peter’s vaccination centres is a federation of GP practices in Worcestershire.
Dr Gemma Moore, GP and Clinical Director for SW Healthcare, said: “This vaccination centre will further increase our local capacity to deliver Covid-19 vaccines, building upon the success of our GP-led teams and those at the other centres in delivering this programme so quickly across the two counties.
“These have been instrumental in helping us to introduce the vaccine in Herefordshire and Worcestershire so far, and we look forward to continuing to drive this programme forward.
“We will be inviting patients based on the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list, targeting the most vulnerable patients first. We’re asking patients not to attend the centre if they haven’t booked an appointment.”
“GP-led teams will also be continuing to invite patients to attend local vaccination sites, so those patients who are unable to get to the larger centres can still wait to be called forward by their GP.”
Ken Nottage, Three Counties Showground Chief Executive said: “Three Counties is proud and honoured to host a vaccination centre for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
“This is not a commercial venture for Three Counties but rather an opportunity for us to play our part in supporting the national challenge to combat Covid-19. We have been extremely impressed with the planning and effort that has gone into establishing this facility which is testament to the determination of the NHS to deliver a mass vaccination programme.
“I would encourage the public to play their part now by having a vaccination when they are invited to.”
Over the coming weeks people will continue to be invited to take up the offer to be vaccinated according to the eligible cohorts as outlined nationally by the JCVI.
Please wait until you receive your invitation – there is no drop-in service. In the meantime, it is crucial that everyone continues to follow the national guidelines to keep themselves safe.
Other sites in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Covid-19 vaccination network include:
- GP-led vaccination services– these are led by Primary Care Networks of local GP surgeries working together. There are 17 of these sites covering all areas of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
- GP-led teams working to protect care homes residents vaccinating inside the homes, as well as visiting housebound patients.
- Hospital Hubs – protecting hospital staff, care home staff and some hospital patients.
Community pharmacies – one has now opened in Redditch with more planning to open in the coming weeks.
Figures published on 25 February 2021 by NHS England show that nearly 260,000 first vaccinations have now been administered across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. This means that more than 40% of our population (those aged over 16) have now had their first dose and have some protection against the virus, including nearly everyone aged over 70 and already over 80% of people aged between 65 and 69.