Seven mass vaccination centres to open in England next week

It is possible they will not all open on the same day and exact dates are yet to be confirmed.

Downing Street said the centres will be staffed by a mixture of NHS staff and volunteers as the country endures a third national lockdown amid the coronavirus health crisis.

London’s Excel Centre and Birmingham’s Millennium Point are among the sites chosen to host part of the national roll-out of vaccinations as well as centres in Manchester, Surrey, Bristol, Newcastle and Stevenage.

It is thought people will only be able to attend the centres via appointment, but more information will come to light in the coming days.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “They are opening next week.

“It may be the case that some open on different days to others, but they will all open next week.”

Where are the seven centres?

• Etihad Tennis and Football Centre, Manchester
• Millennium Point, Birmingham
• Robertson House, Stevenage
• Excel Centre, London
• Centre for Life, Newcastle
• Epsom Downs racecourse, Surrey
• Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol

The move comes after Boris Johnson promised the Covid-19 vaccine for all priority cases by mid-February.

Speaking from Downing Street on Monday night, the Prime Minister said: "By the middle of February, if things go well and with a fair wind in our sails, we expect to have offered the first vaccine dose to everyone in the four top priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

"If we succeed in vaccinating all those groups, we will have removed huge numbers of people from the path of the virus.

"And of course, that will eventually enable us to lift many of the restrictions we've endured for so long."

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