Don’t arrive more than 10 minutes before your time slot

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE health boss has explained why large queues were seen outside another vaccine centre at the weekend - and how it will be prevented in the future.

An eyewitness who took a family member for their jab on Saturday, said they had to wait outside for an hour-and-a-half in freezing temperatures outside the Kings Meadow Campus centre, off Lenton Lane.

Amanda Sullivan, accountable officer for the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said “It is something that has been happening across the country.

“There have been a few teething problems as we get the new centres up and running and, at Kings Meadow, more slots were opened up but the process wasn’t quick enough. The problem was resolved by Sunday as we got more training covered.”

In addition to the problem at Kings Meadow at the weekend, Ms Sullivan explained there are ways the public can help to make the process as smooth as possible.

She said: “Some people are coming very early.

“I understand people are anxious to get their vaccine and not miss their slot, but we are asking people not to come more than 10 minutes before.

“We cannot accommodate people waiting inside due to social distancing.

“There are marshals at the site and sometimes they have asked people to wait in their cars but some have been reluctant to do this. I do understand it is important to people, and the issue will be different at different sites so we will be looking at how to address that.”