Covid vaccines: 5,000 jabs a day at Black Country's biggest centre

The former TJ Hughes store, at the Saddlers Shopping Centre, in Walsall, has been designed in a bespoke way to maximise output.

Yesterday the first patients were welcomed through the door as the NHS works down the age brackets to people aged 55 to 60.

Walsall Council has provided one hour free parking at the Park Street-site so patients can get vaccinated for free.

Kelly Geffen, divisional director of nursing at Walsall NHS Trust, pictured, said: "I am really proud of the work the teams [of organisers] have done.

"It has been a huge joint effort from multiple agencies across Walsall and we have finally hit the go pedal. I am just really proud and excited to get things rolling."

Inside the hub, there are three pods with 12 booths inside each but that can be expanded to 50 booths if needed.

The site is being run by Walsall Together partnership, which is a collaboration of organisations including Walsall NHS Trust, Walsall Council and Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group.

Speaking at the launch yesterday, Daren Fradgerty, chief executive of Walsall NHS Trust, said: "Today and each day this week, we have a capacity of 1,000 slots.

"But we have planned for capacity up to 5,000. Depending on what the demand is, that is how we can step up.

"We have taken all the learning from the Walsall Manor [vaccination] site where we have had over 1,000 people a day.

"We have replicated that here and built some growth. In theory, we can have 3,000 people a day with the three pods running.

"But because we have added additional capacity to each pod, that is when we get to the 5,000.

"The pod narrative is a national model. They say each pod is 500, so in theory three pods are 1,500.

"We completely redesigned the pod model, based on the learning from the Manor site, so we know we can get a lot through a pod.

"In reality, do we need 5,000? Probably not, but we can get much more through each pod."

It is hoped the shopping centre location will appeal to younger generations to get vaccinated, as their invites will come when more lockdown restrictions are lifted. There is an agreement in place for the hub to run for six months.

The TJ Hughes store has been vacant for some time and it did not take long to transform the shop into the vaccination centre.

Melvin Glasby, manager of the shopping centre, said it was a case of giving the shop a "deep clean" and resurrecting some mechanical equipment.

He continued: "There is a high rate of Covid within the area and we believe this will help to hopefully eradicate the problem.

"We are actually bringing the store back to life with the council. We think once the centre can reopen after lockdown, it will actually encourage younger people to come in, once they are allowed to get the vaccine booked.

"We have one hour free parking, the councillors have made the decision to give everyone one hour free parking, which will run right the way through while the vaccination centre is operating."

Patients spoke of their relief at receiving vaccines yesterday, as health bosses sought to reassure people over concerns the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could cause blood clots.

Ready

The first patients were vaccinated yesterday after the former TJ Hughes store was transformed into the Black Country's biggest vaccination hub.

Health staff are expecting to administer 1,000 doses every day this week, before increasing capacity.

First in the queue on Monday was Neil Smith, aged 58, from Wolverhampton, who said: "I feel pleased [to get vaccinated], I have been looking forward to taking it. It will keep me safe and give me less chance of getting coronavirus."

Another patient was Mohammed Yaqub, 55, from Walsall, who said: "I feel fine having had the vaccine. I had no pain."

Colin Mills, 60, of Bloxwich, who works as a plasterer, said: "I feel absolutely fantastic. I think to myself, when I go out shopping, this will give me a bit more safety."

Jaspir Kaur, 60, of Darlaston, added: "I feel safer now having had the jab."

There was a buzz about the place on the morning when health workers geared up to welcome the first patients. By lunchtime, a steady queue had formed at the hub.

The site is the latest mass vaccination centre to open in the region, following the Black Country Living Museum and Tipton Sports Academy.

It will help to propel vaccinate numbers forward in the region even further. To date, 427,000 people have received Covid jabs across the Black Country and West Birmingham.

Ann Marie Riley, executive director of nursing at Walsall NHS Trust, said: "This is just another offer to give people the option to come and receive their vaccine."

The hub has opened amid news that some countries, including Ireland, Denmark and Norway, have suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca over fears of patients getting blood clots.

Asked what assurances he would give to patients with concerns, Walsall NHS Trust's chief executive Daren Fradgerty said: "We have vaccinated more than 24million people in the UK so far.

"We are regulated by the medicines safety agency [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency].

"Also, it is coordinated by a group of scientists and clinical professionals who have joined the vaccination group.

"We follow their lead. The UK views the vaccines as very safe. Everything has to be looked at in context.

"People are dying on a daily basis from the virus. The vaccine is the only way to stop the virus from spreading, other than hands, space and face.

"We will take any guidance of any changes to vaccine safety from the national group."

Sally Roberts, senior responsible officer for the local vaccination programme, added: "I would like to encourage everyone aged 55 and over, those who are clinically vulnerable, carers and frontline health and social care workers to book your vaccine if you haven't already done so.

"You can do this by calling 119 or visiting the national booking service website.

"For those people who have not yet accepted an invite, my message is you will not be left behind, the vaccine is safe and it is the best protection from this terrible virus. If we have already asked you to come for your vaccine, when you are ready contact us right away."