Covid jab centre set to open at council office

‘As a council we will do anything we can to support the battle against this virus’

ONE of the UK’s first mass coronavirus vaccination centres is set to open in Loughborough before Christmas.

Plans to use part of Charnwood Borough Council’s headquarters to administer vaccines from the middle of next month are in place – if the medication is certified by then.

A council spokesman said: “We can confirm the council is in negotiations with the NHS about using its offices in Southfield Road as a potential Covid-19 vaccination centre.

“The details are yet to be finalised, so this is still only a proposal at this stage.

“As a council we will do anything we can to support the battle against this virus.

“The council has supported residents and local businesses throughout the pandemic and should this proposal go ahead, we would be proud to play our part in the vaccination programme.

“The offices have capacity as many staff are working from home and that is a trend that is likely to continue long term.

“Our understanding is the centre could open mid-December.”

It is understood the Ministry of Defence was likely to sign off the plan, with more details to follow.

Staff at the council have been briefed about the proposals, which will see a ground floor part of the office complex given over to the vaccination programme being proposed by the Department for Health and Social Care.

There has been recent encouraging news about vaccinations.

A vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, has been tested on 43,500 people and is awaiting approval. The UK is set to receive 10 million doses by the end of the year, with a further 30 million on order.

Trials of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine show a 70% success rate, with a possible rise to 90%. The UK has ordered 100 million doses.

The UK is also set to receive five million doses of the US-developed Moderna vaccine, said to protect 94.5% of people.