NI's Big Jab Initiative kicks off this weekend

Mass vaccination centres to offer walk-in first jabs for last time👇

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 20th Aug 2021

The “Big Jab Weekend” is set to run on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August, to give people even more opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Students are being encouraged to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated before schools and colleges swing open their doors in September.

The Health Department initiative is available across Northern Ireland, with the aim of increasing vaccination rates amid rising cases.

The vaccination centre at the SSE Arena first opened on 29 March and to date has issued almost 360,000 vaccines so far.

From 24 August, the centre will move to the overflow car park where it will continue delivering second dose vaccinations and first doses for 16 and 17-year-olds.

It comes as mass vaccination centres continue to wind down their work.

Mass vaccination centres included are:

SSE Arena, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ - Saturday and Sunday, 8.00 am to 6.00 pm

Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA - Saturday and Sunday, 8.30 am to 7.00 pm

Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Trostan Avenue, Ballymena BT43 7BL - Saturday and Sunday, 9.00 am to 5.30 pm

South Lake Leisure Centre, 1 Lake Road, Craigavon BT64 1AS - Saturday and Sunday, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm

The Foyle Arena, 2 Limavady Road, Londonderry BT47 6JY - Saturday and Sunday, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm

Omagh Leisure Centre, Old Mountfield Road, Omagh BT79 7EG - Saturday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and closed Sunday

Lakeland Forum, Broadmeadow, Enniskillen BT74 7EF - Saturday and Sunday, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm

Vaccinations will also continues to be available at walk-in pop up clinics and community pharmacies - CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Take a look back on Northern Ireland's vaccination timeline👇

21st December 2021

Northern Ireland's largest vaccination centre at the TEC, Titanic Quarter Belfast, opens it s doors for booster walk-ins and appointments.

September 11th 2021

A pop-up clinic at the Limelight provided vaccinations and free gig tickets to those taking up the jab

September 8th 2021

The Health and Agriculture Ministers have jointly urged the farming and rural community to protect themselves from Covid-19 through vaccination. The appeal in the farming and rural community will provide walk-in vaccinations at September's Balmoral Show.

August 22nd 2021

Vaccination staff at the SSE Arena at the end of the Big Jab Weekend.

June 24th 2021

Northern Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination centres are now offering first dose appointments to everyone aged 18 and over

June 27th 2021

80% of the adult population have now a first jab and close to 60% are fully vaccinated with both doses. The two million mark has been reached, as the centre opens for walk-in vaccinations at the SSE Arena Belfast.

May 18th 2021

Over a million people in Northern Ireland have now received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose.

May 11th 2021

Department of Health confirmed half a million people have received both doses of the Coronavirus vaccine

April 2020

At the end of April 2020 Oxford University launched a trial testing a potential Covid-19 on human participants.

30th April 2021

Limited availability for those aged 30 to 34 to book a Covid-19 vaccine.

26th April 2021

Vaccination slots are open to those born between 01/04/81 and 30/04/86 across NI.

10th April 2021

One million doses of the Covid vaccine have now been administered in Northern Ireland.

19th April 2021

35-39 year olds are offered a limited opportunity to book a covid vaccine.
This is in advance of opening the programme to the entire 35-39 age group by the end of April.

8th April 2021

People aged 40-44 now able to book their vaccination appointments across Northern Ireland.

7th April 2021

Under 30s will be offered alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine due to 'small number' of blood clots.
READ MORE

31st March 2021

Health Minister Robin Swann received his first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine at Ballee Community Pharmacy, he urged others who are eligible to do the same.

30th March 2021

In an effort to bring the jab to local high streets and rural areas, hundreds of community pharmacies and chemists joined the vaccine rollout.

29th March 2021

The carpark at the SSE Arena in Belfast was a Covid-19 testing facility. Meanwhile the arena inside was transformed into a vaccination site to administer around 40,000 vaccines per week.
READ MORE

28th March 2021

50% of Northern Ireland's adult population receive a covid vaccine, with a total of 719,260 administered by March 28th.
READ MORE

27th March 2021

First Minister Arlene Foster was given an AstraZeneca jab at the Castle Park Leisure Centre in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.

14th March 2021

Vaccine roll-out continues across Northern Ireland despite temporary halt to AstraZeneca jab in the Republic. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended the move following reports of serious blood clotting events in adults in Norway.
READ MORE

12th March 2021

The UK's Defence Secretary approved the deployment of 100 defence medics for vaccination support.
READ MORE:

17th February 2021

A major extension of Northern Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme was announced, with responsibilities divided between GP practices and the seven regional vaccination centres run by health trusts.

26th January 2021

The Department of Health revealed plans to scale up the Covid vaccination programme - everyone aged over 65 would be offered a jab within five weeks.

4th January 2021

The roll-out of a second covid-19 vaccination programme (Oxford/AstraZeneca) began across Northern Ireland.
READ MORE

8th December 2020

Belfast nurse Joanna Sloan became the first person in Northern Ireland, and indeed on the island of Ireland, to be vaccinated.

2nd December 2020

The UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

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