Published: Monday, 15th March 2021
The NHS launched a new COVID-19 vaccination centre at the Town Hall in Downham Market on Monday 15 March 2021, as part of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.
Cllr Stuart Dark, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services & Public Protection, is delighted to see the centre, run by The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH), open.
The centre provides an additional option to the large scale vaccination centre already delivering vaccines in King’s Lynn and the hubs already successfully delivering vaccinations in local hospitals and by GPs across the county.
Caroline Shaw CBE, Chief Executive at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH), which is delivering the vaccination centre said: “We’re delighted to be launching an additional vaccination centre in Downham Market, in full co-operation with Downham Market Town Council, which will increase access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination for our local community.”
“The centre will initially deliver around 1,000 vaccinations every week. It joins a number of centres already providing vaccines across Norfolk and Waveney, including our centre at QEH which has now administered over 20,000 vaccinations. This is a fantastic achievement and would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff who have gone above and beyond to deliver this vital programme.”
People aged 55 and over who have received a letter can now book a vaccination at a time and location that is convenient to them by going online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
New appointments are regularly added to the booking system, so please keep checking if you don’t immediately see an appointment in a suitable location for you. Alternatively, people can choose to wait to be contacted by their local GP services.
Melanie Craig, Chief Executive, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group added: “NHS staff, supported by volunteers and health professionals that have returned to the NHS are doing an incredible job to deliver what it is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as providing vital services for people who need our care.”
“Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine; we will contact you. If you receive a letter inviting you to book your first COVID-19 dose via the national booking system, you can do this or choose to wait for your local GP practice to contact you to book an appointment at a site closer to you; there are options available.”
“I urge people across Norfolk and Waveney to continue following all the guidance to control the virus and save lives – that means staying at home, and always remembering ‘hands, face and space’; it’s also vital for people that have had a dose of the vaccine to continue following the same guidance.”
People aged 55 and over and unpaid carers have been receiving text messages from the NHS this week inviting them to book an appointment via the national booking service.
In some cases text messages have been used by scammers to try to collect personal details from people, get them to ring premium rate numbers or enter their banking details. The text message will be sent using the Government’s secure Notify service and will show as being sent from ‘NHSvaccine’. The NHS will never ask for payment or banking details.
This new vaccine centre can be accessed via the main entrance to the Town Hall which is situated in the heart of Downham Market Town Centre. There will be limited parking, including disabled bays, in the main Town Hall car park. The Town Hall car park is situated by the main entrance to the Town Hall, off Bridge Street. It will be free and coordinated by security personnel.