Sleaford MP and Boots pharmacies step up to join in Covid vaccination programme but local branches not ready yet

A Boots consultation room in Halifax where the Covid vaccine will be administered. EMN-211001-115935001

Boots is preparing and training staff to start Covid-19 vaccinations this week, with preparations at the first vaccination site in Halifax underway, but it may take some time for it to be available in local branches.

The first Boots mass vaccination site, which will be administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, will operate from purpose-built facilities in its Halifax pharmacy.

Two additional vaccination sites in Huddersfield and Gloucester will also open in the near future.

Discussions are underway on the potential to expand this to more mass vaccination sites in the coming months to support NHS capacity.

Patients will be provided the option to book their vaccination appointment through the NHS booking system, once it is open.

Seb James, Managing Director of Boots said: “Boots has already conducted over two million Covid-19 tests on behalf of the NHS and now we are proud to play our part in vaccinating the nation. Our vaccination sites are clean, clinical environments, in accessible, convenient locations, like high streets, and we have extensive experience in vaccination services, having carried out over a million flu vaccinations in this winter flu season alone.

“We hope to help the NHS and enable more people to get the vaccination quickly. I am incredibly thankful for the whole team’s support in helping make this happen.”

A covid vaccination facility at Boots pharmacy in Halifax. EMN-211001-115945001

Boots has extensive knowledge, experience and proven capability in vaccination services. Boots has set up specialist centres in its pharmacies which allow the Covid-19 vaccine to be administered by pharmacists and ensures that exceptional safety, clinical and operational standards are met while achieving the vaccination of at least 1,000 patients per site each week.

Boots launched a new Covid-19 testing service in October 2020 to offer convenient private testing for those without symptoms to help ease pressure on the NHS and Government testing programmes. The service is now available in more than 90 stores across the UK.

Boots also donated over 500,000 tablets of lifesaving medicine Dexamethasone to the NHS after UK experts announced the benefits of Dexamethasone in June 2020, describing how the low-dose steroid treatment can reduce fatalities by up to one third in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of Covid-19.

Sleaford and North Hykeham MP, Dr Caroline Johnson tweeted on Friday that she had been helping out administering Covid jabs to residents visiting a vaccination centre. She said: “Quite a lot of people aged 80-plus who live in their own home have now had the vaccine, and many have had a second dose.

Boots staff unpacking a fridge to store the Covid-19 vaccines. EMN-211001-115925001

“I know - I vaccinated a few of them myself today.

“Isn’t it good that so many vulnerable residents are being protected by our excellent vaccination programme?”

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