Mass COVID-19 vaccination site opens in Slough
It is one of ten large-scale centres opening across the country today
Last updated 18th Jan 2021
Ten new mass vaccination centres open across the country today including in Slough.
The NHS will start delivering Covid immunisations at the Salt Hill Activity Centre in Bath Road as part of the country's biggest immunisation programme in health service history.
It follows last week's opening of seven large-scale sites - bringing the total countrywide to 17.
The NHS says the new sites will help to ensure that everyone in England is within easy reach of a vaccination service,
Those eligible will be sent invitations - but they can choose to wait to have their jab at their local GP or hospital.
More than 3-point-8 million people across the UK have already received their first dose at sites which also include hospitals and GP-led services.
Newly published figures show more than one in three people aged 80 and over have had the jab.
Last week the NHS vaccinated 140 people every minute and hopes to do even more this week.
From today people over 70 and those listed as clinically extremely vulnerable will be invited to get their coronavirus jabs
They are the next two priority groups to be offered it .
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England's medical director, said: "The NHS vaccination programme has got off to a strong start with our hard-working staff delivering more than three million vaccinations while also dealing with the latest wave of coronavirus infections.
"This is accelerating as more vaccine supplies come on stream with more sites opening all the time so that we can protect as many people as swiftly as possible.
"The rapid progress we have already made is testament to NHS staff who are pulling out all the stops to vaccinate the most vulnerable while caring for so many people who are seriously ill with Covid.
"In the most challenging of circumstances we are seeing the very best of the NHS."
The other news sites opening today include:
Bournemouth International Centre
Taunton Racecourse
Blackburn Cathedral
Norwich Foodcourt, Castle Quarter
The Lodge, Wickford, Essex
Princess Royal Sports Arena, Lincolnshire
St Helens Rugby Ground
Park and ride at Askham Bar, York
Olympic Office Centre, Wembley, London