BURTON Albion Vaccination Centre will reach a new landmark this weekend as it administers its 250,000th Covid jab.
The quarter of a million doses delivered at the Pirelli Stadium does not include jabs delivered on home visits, in schools and at care homes. The combined figure is approaching 275,000.
After a relatively quiet period the Pirelli Stadium is gearing up to be busy again with the roll out of the spring booster programme for the over 75s and the clinically vulnerable. This is currently through appointments only after being contacted by your doctor and it has to be at least six months from your previous booster jab. Walk in appointments are expected to be available soon for those eligible.
Roy Burton, the Vaccination Centre Coordinator for Burton Albion Community Trust, said: “To reach 250,000 jabs at the Pirelli Stadium alone is a remarkable achievement and although I keep saying it, it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers whose enthusiasm has never waned and who still want to give up their time to help keep people safe.
“We are going to be busy again next week with the spring boosters with more than 1,000 people expected at two sessions.
“With the closure of some vaccination centres in the area we are now also taking people in from not just East Staffordshire but places like Alrewas and Tamworth as well.
"We are here for the duration and we will be adding flu vaccinations to the service as well later in the year.
“It’s one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by Burton Albion Football Club, in partnership with the Community Trust and the NHS.”
Matt Hancock, BACT’s Head of Community, said: “It’s another amazing landmark for this important initiative that has been made possible by the generosity of the football club in providing the facilities free of charge, the tireless work of BACT staff and our volunteers and the strength of our partnership with the NHS.”
Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson said: “I want to congratulate everyone involved in reaching another important landmark and with cases rising again offering spring boosters is another important service we are proud to be delivering here at the Pirelli Stadium.”