Troops move in to stadium for vaccination rollout

THESE pictures show the Army arriving at a West football stadium yesterday to set up Britain’s first mass coronavirus vaccination programme.

Troops have been spotted at Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol to prepare the site to be ready to vaccinate tens of thousands of people.

NHS bosses have confirmed that people in Bristol could receive the vaccine as early as next Monday, starting with the over-50s and key workers if a vaccine receives regulatory approval.

The vaccination trial will be administered by the North Bristol NHS Trust but the logistics of getting thousands of people into and out of the venue is being managed by the military.

The first contingent of army logistics officers were seen arriving at the stadium yesterday to begin preparations.

The stadium’s mass vaccination operation will be running 12 hours a day, and with its large indoor concourse spaces, large car park and convenient location, it is seen as an ideal location.

According to the NHS experts, between 75,000 and 110,000 people in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will receive vaccines every week from Monday, December 7 until April 5,

Subject to regulatory approval, vaccinations at the site could start as early as next Monday.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, speaking on BBC1’s national politics programme Politics Live, said: “The aim is that we are ready for anything that comes along that allows us to work for the safety of our population.”