A DATE has been set for the first people to start receiving Covid-19 vaccinations at the Pirelli Stadium.
The home of Burton Albion FC has been used already as a testing facility but will now be used as a vaccination centre starting from next Wednesday.
Initially vaccines will be targeted at the most vulnerable and the elderly, but it will be an important first step on the road back to normal life.
Burton Albion Community Trust staff and volunteers will be supporting the NHS to make sure it all runs smoothly.
Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson said: “The club and Burton Albion Community Trust have been proud to support the NHS in dealing with the pandemic from the very start.
“Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people’s health and livelihoods, and we all want to see a way out as soon as possible. As well as using the ground as a testing facility, BACT has been delivering food parcels, reaching out to people who are feeling lonely and trying to support as many in the community as possible during these difficult times.
“If the stadium can now be useful in helping us on the road to recovery as a vaccination centre then we are delighted to again give the NHS our full support.”
Dr David Atherton, the Clinical Director of Staffordshire Primary Care Network has confirmed that the Covid vaccination programme for East Staffordshire will start on Wednesday, December 16, in the Vera Goode Suite at the Pirelli Stadium.
He said: “975 vaccines will be received initially for use across East Staffordshire and they will be divided equally amongst every GP practice and all GP practices in East Staffordshire have signed up to deliver the vaccine.
“We can all be proud of our GPs and how fast they have reacted to this and how they have come together as a collective to ensure we deliver this programme for our patients and public.
“Initially the most vulnerable age group of over 80s will be the first to receive the vaccine and they are now being contacted by their GP surgery, via post or telephone.
“On receiving notification of their vaccine appointment date it is vital they check they are free to receive their second vaccine dose precisely three weeks later to the day and therefore if anyone is unable to attend for the second vaccination then they cannot attend the initial date as a first and second vaccination are required.”