Telford International Centre reopens as vaccine centre to give borough a boost
Telford and Wrekin Council is pulling out the stops to support the local NHS to vaccinate as many eligible adults in the borough as possible with a Covid-19 booster by the New Year.
Re-opening the Telford International Centre as a booster vaccination clinic is one of the major council initiatives to get all eligible residents protected in the fight against Omicron.
Around 47,000 people in Telford and Wrekin will be eligible for the booster jab and are being encouraged to get one as soon as possible over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
The council is supporting the local NHS to accelerate the booster programme in the borough by:
- Re-opening the vaccination centre at Telford International Centre for boosters only– from 16 December.
Open every day for walk-ins between 8am-6pm, including weekends (apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day).
- Adding extra walk-in clinics and extending clinic opening times
Southwater Library clinic open every Thursday , 5pm-10pm and Saturday, 18 December, 11am-3pm
- Launching a mobile vaccination bus touring various areas of the borough
- Calling on vulnerable residents to help them book vaccination appointments
Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, said: “As we have done all throughout the pandemic, we are working round the clock to support our NHS - and even more so now, with the Omicron variant spreading so rapidly.
“Our staff, our partners and our volunteers, have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to protect and care for our residents. They are ready to rise to another challenge but need your help as well.
“We are making it as easy as possible for everyone eligible in our borough to have their booster, at a convenient time and place for them.
“We are re-opening one of the biggest clinics in the borough (for boosters only), Telford International Centre and people also have the opportunity to grab their jab while doing late night Christmas shopping in Southwater or at a mobile vaccination bus closer to their home.
“It’s as easy as it can get - please do your bit and get your booster without delay.”
“Let’s all work together to fight Omicron and keep life moving in our borough.”
Details of walk-in clinics in Telford and Wrekin that offer the booster with no appointment are on www.telford.gov.uk/walkin.
People need to be aged 18 and over and have had their second dose at least three months ago.
Angie Wallace, Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:
“We are very grateful of the support Telford and Wrekin Council and Wellington Pharmacy have shown us through the pandemic. The reopening of the vaccination centre at Telford International Centre, which is being run in partnership by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Telford & Wrekin Council and Wellington Pharmacy, will help increase capacity for boosters in Telford and Wrekin. The pace of the rollout across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and UK is already quick – but it is essential that we pull out all the stops to deliver even more vaccines.
“Large vaccination centres such as Telford International Centre, more drop in clinics, extended opening ours and the use of our mobile vaccination buses will really help bolster our offer, improve accessibility and ultimately the number of vaccines we can deliver into people’s arms to give the protection they need against the Omicron variant.
“This rapid rollout is critical to the success of the accelerated booster programme to win the race between the vaccine and the virus.”
