1 minute read
SW Healthcare
Positivity and enthusiasm reign at Artrix vaccination centre
The Artrix in Bromsgrove opened its doors on January 25 as the first large-scale vaccination centre in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Open from 8am to 8pm, it has the capacity to vaccinate 20 people every five minutes or up to 2,500 people every day.
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In the weeks and months leading up to the opening, there was a tremendous amount of planning behind the scenes, with staff and volunteers working tirelessly from morning until night to transform the Artrix from theatre to vaccination centre and they’ve been overwhelmed by the phenomenal response from members of the public who’ve passed through the doors since.
The enthusiasm that residents have shown has been nothing short of inspiring and has helped to keep energy levels high, both at Artrix and at other centres across South Worcestershire.
At the time of writing, more than 183,000 patients in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have received their first coronavirus vaccination since the programme began on December 8, 2020. That’s 98% of over 75s and 76.5% of those aged 70-74 – as well as a vast number of clinically extremely vulnerable patients and health and social care staff outside of these age groups.
How you can help the Artrix team:
• Please don’t come to the Artrix without an appointment – we’re not a walk-in centre, so you must have an appointment booked beforehand. • Don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine unless you’re in a group that’s been called forward to do so. You can follow SW Healthcare on Facebook for the latest updates on when you should expect to be called in. • If you receive an invitation letter from the NHS, but aren’t able to get to the Artrix, please be patient – your GP will be in contact soon to get you booked in for an appointment at a local site. • When you’re booked in, please attend your appointment at exactly the time you’re asked to – not early or late – so we can avoid queues in this cold weather. • Once you’ve been vaccinated, please continue following the guidance in place to help the NHS control the virus and save lives.
