Chester Street vaccine hub opening next week

The new Covid-19 vaccine hub on Chester Street in Douglas will open its doors at the start of next week.

The facility, based in the former Shoprite store, will welcome residents for their appointments from next Monday (February 15) with around 460 people booked in for first or second jabs on the first day.

Officials say it will deliver vaccine at whatever rate it is supplied to the Island and as priority groups are invited to come forward - with jabs currently being administered to the over-80s and over-75s.

The hub has 10 cubicles where vaccines can be safely administered - meanwhile, a specialist storage area and preparation room for the vaccine are in place, alongside a waiting area and facilities for admin staff.

Patients are being asked to arrive just before their appointment and not too early to avoid queues forming.

Additional disabled parking has been made available on Market Street, with 2-hour disc parking on levels 2 to 6 in Chester Street car park.

A drop-off area has also been added outside the hub for taxis and patient transport.

The Chester Street hub is replacing the facility at the Newlands Ward of Noble's Hospital which closed yesterday.

Health Minister, David Ashford MHK, says: "I am delighted to see the next important step in the delivery of our vaccination programme come on stream. It has been good to see this disused building transform into a hub that will be well used over the next few months while we work towards vaccinating our Island’s population."

Elsewhere, a 'pop-up' vaccine clinic will be held at Ramsey Cottage Hospital this Saturday (February 13) for more than 200 elderly people in the north of the Island who are unable to travel.