News / COVID-19
Major Covid-19 vaccination centre to close its doors
A major Covid-19 vaccination centre in Bristol is closing its doors after 18 months of service.
The Vaccination Centre @ UWE Bristol opened at the university’s Frenchay Campus in July 7, 2021, and was the biggest centre in the South West during the height of the pandemic.
The centre provided large-scale vaccinations following the closure of the mass vaccination centre at Ashton Gate Stadium.
is needed now More than ever
Nearly a quarter of a million vaccinations have been given at the centre since it opened.
At its peak, during December 2021, more than 4,000 people a day were vaccinated at the centre, which was open seven days a week.
The site also housed a dedicated children’s vaccination hub, provided vaccination training and offered flu and Mpox vaccinations.
As smaller GPs and community pharmacy-run clinics have rolled out regular Covid vaccinations, however, the need for the site has drastically decreased, and demand for a large-scale site is no longer necessary.
Chief nurse and operational lead for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Covid-19 Vaccination programme, Anne Morris, said the closure was a “positive milestone and party of the natural evolution” of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
“The community-based vaccination model we have in place makes the most of the strengths within our health system and makes it as easy as possible for people to get their Covid vaccinations.”
Morris also thanked health and care workers in the NHS for their help in rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
“The closure of the Vaccination Centre @ UWE Bristol is only possible because of the hard work of numerous health and care colleagues across our system, as well as the overwhelming response from people in our area who have come forward for their Covid vaccinations when invited.
“I’d also like to say a huge thank you on behalf of the NHS to the University of the West of England who have been supportive and flexible landlords over the past 18 months.
Morris stressed the fact that the closure of the centre does not mean Covid-19 is no longer a public health risk: “Despite the success of the Covid Vaccination Programme, we cannot afford to be complacent about this virus.”
Vice chancellor at UWE Bristol, professor Steve West said being able to house the region’s largest vaccination centre was “a source of great pride.”
“As a university community, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated NHS staff who have run the centre these past 18 months and helped limit the impact of the virus.”
The final date for vaccinations will be Friday, March 17.
Main photo: James Koch
Read next:
- Boris Johnson visits Bristol’s ‘super-vaccination centre’ at Ashton Gate’
- How organisations are responding to the financial impact of Covid
- First look inside mass vaccination centre ready to open at Ashton gate
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
