THE Covid-19 vaccination centre in Salisbury will be closed for three days during the Christmas period. 

First and second doses of the vaccine, and the booster jab, will be unavailable from the former City Hall site on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day, December 24, 25 and 26.

Volunteers and staff had been looking forward to a five-day break, but in response to the stepped up booster roll out, they will now be offering vaccinations over the two bank holidays, December 27 and 28.

This is to cope with a surge of bookings, after the Prime Minister announced all eligible residents over 18-years-old will be offered a third jab by the end of the year.

Apart from a brief closure in April, as a result of national delivery delays, the centre has been open every day since it launched in January.

“It’s so important to us that everyone is vaccinated and we want to do everything we can to enable that to happen so we will look at every opportunity,” said Fiona Hyett, operational director for the centre. 

Responding to the targets set, Fiona added: “It’s a huge ask, but a really important ask, at the heart of all of that is we want to do our bit to protect the public and protect the NHS.”

The vaccination hub is also urging everyone to book appointments, after around 450 people turned up at the Malthouse Lane site for a walk-in appointment on both December 13 and 14, despite the centre not advertising a walk-in service. 

Booked appointments, rather than walk-ins, will prevent "overwhelming" NHS staff and volunteers, Fiona added.

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