Alderley Park to host Covid-19 vaccination centre

As well as hosting the Medicines Discovery Catapult’s Lighthouse Lab, which is testing samples from across the North for Covid-19, Alderley Park is now also home to a new vaccination centre.

Alderley Park Conference Centre, along with Chester Racecourse, will from this week aid GP-led, hospital and pharmacy-based vaccination services to help accelerate the fight against the Covid-19 virus.

While GPs across Cheshire East are in the process of contacting vulnerable people to invite them for their first Covid-19 jab, people aged 70 and above who have yet to be contacted can now book an appointment at the Alderley Park vaccination centre, or at other locations across the borough via a new NHS web portal.

People who are eligible, but without online access, can call 119 to book a jab free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. People are also able to book appointments on behalf of people they care for if they are unable to do it themselves.

All vaccination centres are staffed by clinicians, trained vaccinators, administrative staff and a range of volunteers who help make a visit run as smoothly and safely as possible.

John Wilbraham, Chief Executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust, which is operating the Alderley Park vaccination centre, said:

NHS staff are doing an incredible job to deliver what is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs care. We are pleased to be involved with our partners in the Alderley Park Conference Centre vaccination centre.”

Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Sam Corcoran, said:

I am delighted that this facility is available, giving local residents the option to use this as an alternative to GP-led vaccination hubs and local hospitals. The NHS are doing a commendable job, in extremely challenging times, ensuring everyone gets protection from this deadly virus.

“I thank all staff involved for their incredible hard work and I’d like to thank the residents of Cheshire East for their patience in waiting their turn for a jab and for continuing to do the right thing by keeping good hand hygiene, wearing a face covering where appropriate and for keeping a two-metre distance from others.”

Dr Kath Mackay, managing director at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park, said:

Alderley Park’s life science and tech campus has already played a huge role in the fight against COVID-19 after the opening of the Lighthouse Lab testing facility here last spring. We’re really proud that we’re now supporting the vaccination programme too, which is so crucial to our economic recovery and the path out of the pandemic. 

“Close collaboration with the NHS is part and parcel of what we do every day, not just at Alderley Park but across the Bruntwood SciTech network. The vaccination centre is just another great example of our partnership in action.”