Covid-19 vaccination super weekend planned in Cambridge with extra walk-in clinics in city centre and Arbury
A vaccination ‘super weekend’ is lined up in Cambridge, with extra walk-in centres set up to enable anyone aged 18 or over to get their first or second Covid-19 jab without an appointment.
Case numbers have spiralled across the county, but particularly in the city, where vaccination rates are lagging behind.
Official data shows Cambridge has the lowest take-up in the East of England, and depending on which population estimate is used, is in the lowest 10 or 20 places in the country.
With Covid-19 restrictions due to end on July 19, there is a major push to drive up vaccination rates.
When attending a walk-in vaccination, you should bring:
- a face mask / covering - this is essential
- Identification and your NHS number, if possible
If going for your second dose, you can take along the card you were given when you had your first, if you still have it, so the batch number can be filled in on it. You may wish to bring a bottle of water to have afterwards.
Second doses are available to anyone over 18 who had their first dose at least eight weeks ago.
We have compiled a complete list of all walk-in centres across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough here, which we are regularly updating.
But in Cambridge, the following have been organised by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, Cambridge City Council and other partners:
Walk-in sessions offering Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines (first or second doses):
- The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge CB2 3QJ - Saturday July 10, 8am-8pm, and Sunday July 11, 8am-6pm
Walk-in sessions offering Pfizer vaccine (first or second doses):
- Meadows Community Centre, St Catharine’s Road, Arbury, Cambridge CB4 3XJ - Saturday July 10, 10am-4pm
These are in addition to existing walk-in centres, operating as follows.
Walk-in sessions offering AstraZeneca vaccine (first or second doses):
- The Grafton centre, Cambridge - daily until August 1, 9am-3pm, and Wednesdays in July, 5.30-7.30pm
- Chesterton Indoor Bowls Club, Cambridge - daily until August 1, 9am-3pm
Walk in sessions offering Pfizer vaccine (first or second doses):
- The Grafton centre, Cambridge - Wednesday July 14, 5.30-7.30pm
- The AstraZeneca vaccine is given to those aged 40 and over. Pfizer vaccines can be given to anyone over 18.
Studies show the second dose plays a vital role in offering additional protection, including against the easily transmissible Delta variant.
In the seven days to July 2, there were 449 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cambridge alone - up 207 (85.5 per cent) on the previous week. It means there are 359.8 cases per 100,000 people in the city.
There were 230 cases in South Cambridgeshire in the same week (up 87 or 60.8 per cent on the previous week), while East Cambridgeshire had 67, Huntingdonshire had 208, Fenland had 72 and Peterborough had 273.
Robert Pollock, chief executive of Cambridge City Council, said: “I strongly urge everyone over 18 to grab a jab. There are additional walk-in locations for anyone over 18 to get Pfizer and over 40 to get AstraZeneca this weekend at the Guildhall or Meadows. Please spread the word to family, friends and work colleagues. It only takes 10 minutes.
“Infection levels are getting very high amongst younger age groups and students so please help to spread the word. Our staff will be out delivering leaflets and door knocking to help get the message out.”
Cllr Lewis Herbert, leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “Do your bit to help prevent Cambridge having even worse Covid problems this autumn and persuade everyone you know to grab a jab.
“Along with getting vaccinated, face coverings protect the people around you and cut their and your risk of joining those with ‘long Covid’ or over 128,000 who have died.
“With cases again unacceptably high in Cambridge, now is definitely not the time to stop wearing masks in public indoor environments like shops, or while entering pubs and restaurants, or in busy outdoor queues or overcrowded places. Please continue to wear masks in the places you do now.”
According to Public Health England estimates, 61 per cent of Cambridge’s population has had a first dose, and only 35.5 per cent have had a second. The lower age profile of the city is thought to be one of a number of reasons for this.
By contrast, in South Cambridgeshire, 84.6 per cent of people have had their first dose, while 63.1 per cent have had their second.
The extra vaccination clinics on offer in Cambridge - and at Doddington Hospital, from 9am- 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday (July 10-11) - are part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) ‘Vaccinators on Tour’ programme.
Jan Thomas, accountable officer at the CCG, said: “We’re excited to launch the Vaccinators on Tour – our new touring programme that will give everyone aged 18 and over the chance to get the vaccine close to home. We want to make it as easy as possible to get your jab, so that we can all get back to doing the things we love.
“Whether you’ve missed the pub, your favourite festival, dancing with your mates or cheering on your favourite sports team, getting your jab and making sure you come back for that all-important second dose is the best thing you can do to help us take a huge step in the right direction.”
In addition to the walk-in vaccination clinics running throughout July, you can still book a vaccination online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119.
You can get your free lateral flow tests by calling 119 or ordering by online at www.gov.uk Good ventilation, social distancing, hand hygiene and regular testing help to reduce the spread of the infection.
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