Bilston leisure centre becomes latest vaccination centre in Wolverhampton
A leisure centre in Wolverhampton has begun to support local GPs to deliver the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
The WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams Centre has been approved by NHS England and Improvement and will give additional capacity and enable more patients to receive their Covid vaccination in Wolverhampton.
Dr Salma Reehana, clinical chair at Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "We hope that, by delivering the vaccine at sites such as WV Active Bilston- Bert Williams, the opportunity to have the vaccine is accessible to our most vulnerable populations.
“We are working with our GPs and partners to ensure that we can vaccinate those with most need as outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
“We will be in touch with those eligible for a vaccine as soon as we have appointments available – there’s no need for people to contact their pharmacy or GP – and I would encourage people to step forward when they are asked to do so because this is our opportunity to protect ourselves and each other.”
Councillor Linda Leach, Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for adult services, said: “We are pleased to be able to work closely with health colleagues to drive forward the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Wolverhampton at pace.
"Like Aldersley Leisure Village, which opened as a vaccination centre last month, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams is currently closed because of the national lockdown and we are only too happy to make both facilities available to deliver life-saving jabs to local residents.
"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccine as and when they are invited to do so, and both these leisure centres benefit from ample parking and good public transport links.
"The size of the buildings mean we will also be able to upscale the number of vaccines we can deliver from both sites as and when required.
“We know the vaccine is the fastest way in which we are going to get out of this pandemic and the quicker people are protected, the quicker we can get back to normal so, as soon as you are contacted to have your jab, please make sure you get it.”
Wolverhampton South East MP, Pat McFadden, added: "It is great to see this new vaccination centre up and running in the heart of Bilston. I was delighted to meet the staff who have worked hard to set this up and it will mean a more convenient vaccination process for people in the local area over the coming weeks.
"I have been pressing for a vaccination location in Bilston since the start of this process and I am hugely grateful to everyone involved in this effort.
"I would encourage anyone invited for a vaccination to have their jab as soon as possible.”
