Home of Reading FC opens as mass vaccination centre
It will be able to deliver thousands of jabs each week
Last updated 22nd Feb 2021
Reading’s Madejski Stadium will become one of the latest NHS vaccination centres to open today offering life-saving jabs to those aged 65 and over and other eligible groups.
It will have capacity to deliver thousands of Covid vaccines each week, working through the prioritisation lists set out by the Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). *
People aged 65–69 can book appointments at the home of the Royals (Reading FC) via the NHS national booking service either by ringing 119 or visiting the dedicated website here once they receive their invitation letter.
Earlier eligible groups who have not yet taken up a vaccination offer can also book an appointment at the Centre. This includes those aged 70/80+, as well as front line health and social care workers and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
Those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions or unpaid carers should wait to be contacted by their GP for their vaccination.
The Madejski Stadium joins a network of large-scale centres across the country offering Covid vaccines as part of the biggest mass vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.
Teams from Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) have been working with their Oxford Health colleagues for the last few weeks setting up the site.
Covid Ops Director for Oxford Health, Tehmeena Ajmal said:
“I am delighted that our NHS Trust has been able to open a third regional mass vaccination centre. This has been a genuine team effort, working with our local authority and health colleagues to set up an amazing site with the potential to deliver thousands of vaccines a week.”
One of the first patient's to receive her jab was Gill Dixon from Wokingham
Nikki Richards, Deputy Chief Executive from RBFRS said:
“We are really pleased to be able to support our public health colleagues during this challenging time. By deploying members of the team, we have been able to support the set-up of this mass vaccination centre and aid the NHS in the fight against Covid. Whilst our own critical emergency response continues to be of the utmost importance, we are committed to playing our part in the wider effort to support our communities during this unprecedented time.”