Coronavirus: King's Lynn mass vaccination centre to extend booster jab offer next week

Walk-in coronavirus booster jabs will be made available to over-40s at Lynn's large-scale vaccination centre from next week, health chiefs have announced today.

The move comes amid rising case numbers in West Norfolk and concerns over a new variant of the virus leading to the introduction of restrictions on travellers from several southern African countries.

Until now, people aged between 40 and 49 have had to book appointments for booster jabs via the national booking system.

But the Shakespeare Barn vaccination site in Lynn will be offering walk-in boosters to that age group, as well as second doses for 16 and 17-year-olds, from Monday, November 29.

The boosters are available to patients who had their second jab six months earlier, while second doses are for teenagers who had their initial jab 12 weeks previously.

Cath Byford, chief nurse for the Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, said today: “It’s great news that these vaccination centres are opening up to all eligible cohorts on a walk-in basis.

“The vast majority of those being hospitalised with serious illness from Covid-19 are those who have not been vaccinated.

“We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to arrange their vaccine or booster dose now.

“Vaccines are the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones and reducing Covid-related hospital admissions will help the NHS cope better during the winter months and reduce disruption to routine and planned care.”

Latest figures, for the seven days to yesterday, showed a 26.2 per cent increase in weekly infections across West Norfolk, with 651 positive tests recorded.

Twenty-seven patients were also admitted to Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with Covid-19 during the week ending last Sunday, November 21, up six on the previous week.