The Covid Vaccination Program has been running successfully from the Newbury Racecourse Vaccination Centre and alongside other providers has achieved an amazing uptake across West Berkshire for the high risk Cohorts 1-9. Second doses for these cohorts will continue to be administered at the Centre, but after much thought and due to a combination of factors, operations will be stepped down and stopped from mid-June when administration of second doses has been completed.
As mentioned previously, if you fit into any of the Cohorts 1-9 (aged over 50 or 18 with certain underlying health conditions) and haven’t had your first vaccination you can either contact your GP surgery via their website using the contact form available or book an appointment through the national booking service.
The vaccination programme has now been opened up nationally to the under 50’s, with those 41 and over being invited first. Anyone who has received an invitation to book a vaccine is encouraged to do so via the National Booking System at one of the vaccination services including hospital hubs, community pharmacies and larger mass vaccination centres. Plans are currently being finalised for a provider to open an alternative site in Newbury at Boots in Northbrook Street which we hope will be operational in early May. The National Booking System is busy but clinics and appointment slots are being added all the time so please keep trying. There are a number of sites all within a 30 minute drive of Newbury. Please note we will not be offering vaccinations to cohorts 10-12 at the Racecourse.
We are immensely grateful to the support that the Vaccination Centre has received. Huge thanks go to the 400-strong army of volunteers, to Newbury Racecourse and their staff, and to the nine participating surgeries and their teams. The dedication, hard work, determination and goodwill from all involved has been integral to the success of the programme to date.