Military personnel to support walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic

Christmas shoppers will be able to protect themselves and their families ahead of the festive season by walking into a new pop-up vaccination clinic at Chester Cathedral, adjacent to the Christmas markets, from December 15th-21st.

Military personnel will be supporting NHS staff at the clinic – operated by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – with shoppers eligible for a first, second or booster dose able to simply walk into the Cathedral, on St Werburgh Street, to get a Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccination at the following times:

• Wednesday, December 15^th (10am-5pm)

• Thursday, December 16^th (11am-6pm)
• Friday, December 17^th (10am-5pm)
• Saturday, December 18^th (10am-5pm)
• Sunday, December 19^th (10am-5pm)
• Monday, December 20^th (10am-5pm)
• Tuesday, December 21^st (10am-5pm)

Clare Watson, Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured the support of military personnel for a week-long pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Chester Cathedral. The team will be delivering hundreds of vaccinations every day so please feel free to pop in if you’re eligible for a first, second or booster dose.

“If you are unable to attend a walk-in clinic, you can arrange your vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service, by calling 119 or by responding to an invitation from your local NHS service.”

The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester Cathedral said: “One year ago, we found ourselves closing the Cathedral doors as England went into lockdown.  As we re-opened in April of this year, we were pleased to assist Cheshire fight the pandemic by hosting a testing centre for Cestrians, and now, at our busiest time of year, we are delighted to help our community once again by hosting this pop-up vaccination clinic at the heart of the city.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We’re really pleased to play our part with our partners to hold this week-long clinic at the Cathedral. It’s never been more important for us all to look after each other, and getting your vaccine or booster is the best defence we have as a community against COVID-19.

“This clinic is all about making it easy for people to pop in and get it done so please make the most of that.”

Vaccination is clinically-proven to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.

More information about Cheshire’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is available here

On December 8^th 2020, Mona Thomas, then 92, became the first person in Cheshire to receive a COVID-19 vaccination outside of a clinical trial.

Since that historic moment, more than 1.3 million vaccinations have been administered across the county at GP practices, pharmacies, hospital hubs, mass vaccination centres, community centres, church halls and schools.

Despite this outstanding progress, tens of thousands of eligible people remain unvaccinated and many others eligible for a second or booster jab.

In line with national guidance, anyone who is eligible can now have their booster jab as little as three months after their second dose.