Corby shopping centre Covid vaccination hub opens for jabs

Visitors to Corby town centre will now be able to access a Covid vaccine at the same time as they pop to the shops with a new jab and go service.

Mr Pickford's in Spencer Court in Corby town centre has become one of two pharmacies in Northamptonshire to have begun administering the Covid-19 vaccine

The two dedicated sites, one in Corby and the other in Northampton, will enable the vaccine to be administered to hundreds more patients each day and bring further choice to patients about where they can be vaccinated.

Chris Pallot, director of Northamptonshire’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “I am delighted our first pharmacy sites are now live as they provide yet another weapon in our arsenal in the fight against coronavirus.

"The pharmacy sites complement the existing vaccination sites and offer further choice to patients.

“Once you become eligible for a vaccine you will be invited by your GP Practice or via a letter from the national booking centre.

"The letter will enable patients to book an appointment directly at one of the pharmacy sites or the vaccination centre at Moulton Park.

"Patients who would prefer to be vaccinated at their local GP site, should wait to be contacted by their local GP practice.”

Anyone over 65 can go onto Mr Pickford's website and book their jab.

The Covid-19 vaccine is given as an injection, similar to the flu vaccine, and is given in two doses - the second dose is given 11 to 12 weeks after the first.

Anne-Marie King, chief officer, Northamptonshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “The NHS coronavirus vaccination programme is the largest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS, and I am delighted our local pharmacy teams are now able to join the effort to bring the vaccine to as many eligible people as quickly as possible.

“Pharmacy teams have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and, as we accelerate the vaccination programme, they are playing a vital role in delivering the life-saving jabs to those in their communities.”

Mimi Lau, superintendent pharmacist for Mr Pickford’s Pharmacy, operating the site at 3 Spencer Court, Corby said: “We are thrilled to open our second COVID-19 vaccination centre this week in Corby following the successful opening of our Leicester site last month.

"Our aim is to vaccinate as many eligible people as possible following the JCVI priority cohort list and to engage with communities with lower vaccine uptake levels.

“We believe we can do this by offering a service which is accessible, efficient and adheres to social distancing requirements.

"The vaccine is the best way of returning to normality, so I would encourage people to get vaccinated when it’s their turn to do so.

"Our centre complements the existing vaccination sites and offer further choice to patients.”