THE first mass vaccination centre offering Covid-19 jabs to residents of Suffolk and north Essex opens today. The centre, at Gainsborough Sport Centre in Ipswich, is one of 30 new centres opening across the UK this week. It is the first mass vaccination centre in the east of England and can vaccinate thousands of people each week. The first to receive jabs at the centre will be those over 70 who have received an invite as well as NHS and care staff. The centre offers an additional option for people to the hospital hubs and GP-led vaccination services already offering coronavirus vaccinations in Suffolk and north east Essex and more will be going live in the next few weeks.
THE first mass vaccination centre offering Covid-19 jabs to residents of Suffolk and north Essex opens today. The centre, at Gainsborough Sport Centre in Ipswich, is one of 30 new centres opening across the UK this week. It is the first mass vaccination centre in the east of England and can vaccinate thousands of people each week. The first to receive jabs at the centre will be those over 70 who have received an invite as well as NHS and care staff. The centre offers an additional option for people to the hospital hubs and GP-led vaccination services already offering coronavirus vaccinations in Suffolk and north east Essex and more will be going live in the next few weeks.
A mass vaccination hub at Gainsborough Sports Centre opens today
- Credit: Archant
A mass coronavirus vaccination hub at Ipswich s Gainsborough Sports Centre which can vaccinate thousands of people every week is set to open today.
The Ipswich sports centre is one of 30 new centres opening nationwide this week – and one of the first in the east of England.
The site will be able to vaccinate thousands every week
- Credit: Gregg Brown
It is hoped the centre will vaccinate thousands of people each week, and will be giving the jab to people aged 70 and over – on top of those in other groups who have received an invitation letter, such as care staff.
Aqua Pharmacy in Ipswich is the first to offer Covid-19 vaccinations
- Credit: Lucy Taylor
An Ipswich pharmacy is set to begin vaccinations to help the NHS reach the target of immunising all four top priority groups by mid-February.
Aqua Pharmacy in Duke Street will start offering the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from Thursday to supplement the programmes being run in doctors surgeries and hospitals.
The pharmacy is in Duke Street and will offer vaccinations alongside the hospital hubs and GP surgeries in the area
- Credit: Lucy Taylor
Hayden Chemists in Bridge Road, Lowestoft, will also begin to offer vaccinations later in the week and both pharmacies will be open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Nearly 7,000 people in the north east Essex and Suffolk have survived Covid-19 but the number of people who might have long covid is unknown. A virtual clinic has now been created by the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System to help treat the patients.
Picture: PA If a patient’s condition has not improved within 12 weeks their GP can refer them to the Long Covid Assessment Service. Treatment will include physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, mental health services and social prescribing, with further hospital treatment if necessary. Sarah Fowler, senior respiratory physiotherapist for East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, said: “While the package of care for patients with long Covid has now been formalised, we have been treating patients suffering with the longer-term effects of Covid-19 since the summer.