Sheffield Arena Covid vaccination centre: Who will get jabs first, how will they be invited and when will it be open?

Here’s what you need to know about the new mass vaccination centre, which was one of 33 such facilities to open across the country today.

WHEN WILL IT BE OPEN?

The centre will be open seven days a week from Monday, January 25, at 10am.

WHO WILL BE VACCINATED FIRST?

To begin with, people aged 75 and over who live within a 45-minute drive of the venue will be invited. Colin Ross, 78, and his wife Rita, 79, from Barnsley, were among the first people to get their jabs today.

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HOW WILL PEOPLE BE INVITED?

Letters are being sent by the national NHS booking service inviting recipients to arrange an appointment. If people decide it is more convenient to wait and get the jab at their local primary care centre they can choose not to book at Sheffield Arena.

WHO IS RUNNING THE CENTRE?

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, which has already been giving jabs at its own sites, will be in charge.

CAN YOU TURN UP WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT?

No. Health bosses have warned people only to show up if they have a booking as they will not receive the vaccine otherwise.

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Dr Jennifer Hill, medical director (operations) at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are asking people to help us by not turning up at the Arena unless they have an appointment as we cannot vaccinate people ad hoc.

"The teams at the arena, at our hospitals or GP surgeries cannot make appointments for the Arena and so by calling or turning up it will simply take time away from the staff who are vaccinating and that is the last thing anyone wants to happen.”

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SO FAR?

Daily figures for Sheffield are not being published but Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group said last Thursday that around 50,000 people across the city had received a jab since vaccinations began.

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The latest NHS England statistics, published on Thursday, January 21, show that across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw 116,978 doses had been administered.

WHAT IS THE ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED?

Health chiefs have urged people even after they have had their first dose of vaccine to continue to stay safe by washing their hands regularly, limiting contact with other people and wearing a mask when required.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself but a jab doesn’t mean you can drop your guard. It takes time to develop protection and we do not yet know if it stops transmission. For now everyone must continue to play their vital role in this fight by staying at home to save lives.”

WHAT WAS THE ARENA USED FOR PREVIOUSLY?

Since being closed due to the lockdown, Sheffield Arena had been used to store NHS equipment and to provide a drive-through blood testing facility visited by more than 50,000 cars.