Who can get a coronavirus vaccine at York's new national covid-19 centre?
From today (Monday, 18 January), the Askham Bar site will provide more vaccines to people from across Yorkshire
Last updated 18th Jan 2021
From this week, York is hosting one the national covid vaccination 'super centres'.
The city's been chosen as one site to help boost the number of people getting their coronavirus jab.
The Askham Bar venue will help provide an extra 8,000 appointments for both patients and health and social care staff.
But why the Askham Bar site? Who is behind the covid vaccination rollout here?
We take a look at who can get tested there:
Background
Since 21 December 2020, Vale of York GP practices have been supporting the largest and most important vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.
Five NHS Local Vaccination Services, managed on behalf of GP Practices are already up and running within the Vale of York.
Based at Askham Bar, Nimbuscare has been managing one of these Local Vaccination Services, on behalf of 11 York GP Practices.
Who runs the service?
The NHS Vaccination Centre and Local Vaccination Service at Askham Bar, York, is managed by a collaboration of 11 local GP practices, called Nimbuscare.
Nimbuscare has been managing a vaccination service at the site on behalf of its member practices since October 2020 when it was opened as a flu vaccination site.
In December 2020 Nimbuscare also launched a Local Vaccination Service from the site, offering Covid vaccinations to priority patient groups, on behalf of its 11 GP Practice members.
What’s new?
The current five Vale of York Local Vaccination Services will now be strengthened by the opening of the Vaccination Centre to cover a wider area – available for people living within a 45-minute radius of the York site.
The Vaccination Centre will be based at the existing site at Askham Bar and managed by Nimbuscare. Access is via the new Askham Bar Park and Ride.
Please note this is NOT a drive-through vaccination process.
On arrival people will be directed to the car parking area and then directed to go inside one of the Vaccination Centre buildings.
This Vaccination Centre will serve thousands more priority patient groups from across the region.
York people will continue to be vaccinated at the site.
How will the NHS Vaccination Centre work?
As well as offering the Covid vaccine to invited individuals from local GP practices in the York area, Nimbuscare will also run the Vaccination Centre.
This new service will be for people who live within a 45-minute radius of the site and invitations will go out to patients from the NHS Covid Vaccination Booking Service, telling them how to get an appointment.
The NHS Vaccination Centre will be capable of delivering thousands of jabs each day.
Who can come to the NHS Vaccination Centre for their vaccine?
People should NOT turn up - they should wait to be invited.
They will be invited as per the priority groups, determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
People should not call their GP, but use the booking line shown on the letter.
If an appointment has already been offered by their GP, people can choose which appointment suits them best.
For more details of what to expect when you arrive at the York Vaccination Centre click here.