Chichester Cathedral explains why it won't be used as Covid-19 mass vaccination centre
The NHS has put out its reasons why
Last updated 19th Jan 2021
Bosses at Chichester Cathedral have explained why the site has not been considered as a mass coronavirus vaccination centre, unlike others around the UK.
Cathedrals in Salisbury, Blackburn and Lichfield are among those who have started to offer jabs to members of their local communities in the past few days.
But there had been no word on whether the West Sussex site would join them, despite concerns from residents in the district about a lack of announced facilities.
In a statement released on Monday, the Cathedral said it had made contact with the NHS locally, rather than relying on the assumption that the venue would not be a suitable site.
It went on to read:
"The Cathedral has not been considered as a vaccination hub for a number of reasons.
"All hubs would need adequate handwashing and toilet facilities, parking, be easily cleanable and have the capacity and ability to store fragile vaccines.
"It would need to be closed to all other activities (which is likely to last several months).
"Whilst the Cathedral can sadly not be a vaccination hub for these reasons, it brings us great joy to see other Cathedrals offering their buildings for this effort."
It comes as two more vaccination centres in the Chichester district begin to offer jabs to residents.
Jabs began to be administered at Tangmere Hall on Friday and at the Selsey Centre on Saturday, after they were first administered in Pulborough earlier this month.
The Riverbank Medical Centre in Midhurst and the Petworth Surgery are due to begin their efforts within the next couple of weeks.
A full list of GP-led coronavirus vaccination services in West Sussex can be found here.