Guildford's G Live opens as vaccination centre
Later in March it hopes to vaccinate more than 8,500 people per week
Guildford's G Live venue has taken on a new purpose by opening as a vaccination centre today (12 January).
GP practices are working together in clusters to provide vaccinations for their patients from local community settings rather than individual surgeries.
The venue on London Road starts vaccinating today as part of phase one to immunise vulnerable groups.
Later in March it hopes to vaccinate more than 8,500 people per week as part of the country's mass vaccination programme.
Leader of Guildford Borough Council, Councillor Joss Bigmoer described the move as fantastic:
"It gives us more light at the end of the tunnel. I am proud that Guildford is again able to play a major role in helping the whole county, and G Live is once more at the heart of our community after being closed for much of the last 10 months.
"Thank you to HQ Theatre Group and venue staff for supporting this and working hard to prepare. We must continue to stay at home, but the mass vaccination programme gives us hope, and this first phase will allow us to immunise more of our most vulnerable residents as we work towards the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
“We continue to work closely with colleagues in the NHS and other emergency services as part of the Local Resilience Forum. We have worked as one throughout this pandemic, in the same way as our whole community have come together to show amazing spirit. Thank you for your continued help and support – we will get through this together.”
Derek Aldridge, Venue Director at G Live says they are pleased to support the rollout of the vaccine:
"Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the whole country, including in Guildford, and it’s heartening to think that we can be a small part of the solution.
"This important work is vital to the recovery of our community. The speed at which the NHS has worked with us to prepare the venue has been superb and I’d pay testament to their expertise.”
NHS Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group is asking people to help the local NHS:
Please do not contact your GP practices, the wider NHS or any of the community venues that hosting clinics to seek a vaccine - they will contact you
When they contact you, please attend your booked appointments (unless you are unwell)
Continue to follow all the rules to control the virus and save lives