MORE than 100,000 vaccinations have taken place at the regional mass vaccination centre based in Saints stadium over the past four months.

Merseyside’s only Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Centre, which opened its doors in January, is run by St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and can vaccinate more than 2,000 people each day.

Today, Wednesday, May 5, has been the centre’s busiest day yet with 2,119 people booked to have their jab.

In April, the St Helens site also became one of only 21 vaccination centres in the country to start using the new Moderna vaccine, as well as the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

Pat Keeley, Vaccination Centre Lead, said: “To reach 100,000 vaccinations in such a short period of time is fantastic, and our staff are incredibly proud to be part of the fight back against Covid.

St Helens Star:

We have seen the very worst effects of the Covid-19 virus in our hospitals over the past 15 months, but now through the vaccination programme we are really starting to see things turn around.

To come into the stadium each and every day and know that we are saving lives is just incredibly humbling for us all. Every vaccination is another person we can protect against this deadly virus, and watching the country begin to get back to normal is truly heart-warming.”

Beverley Langley, 52, from St Helens was the 100,000th person to be vaccinated at the centre.

She said: “I’m really happy, I’m delighted. 100,000 what an achievement, it’s amazing! You feel so safe as you’re welcomed in, the staff are really helpful and friendly. Its such a relief, it just feels like were getting back to normal again and we’ll be able to see our families and get out and about again.”

Currently, those eligible to receive their vaccine include:

- over 40s

- health and social care staff

- those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable

- adult carers over the age of 18

Those in the eligible categories who are yet to receive their vaccination are being urged to contact the NHS and arrange their appointment at the St Helens centre as soon as possible.

If you live in Cheshire or Merseyside, you can call the local booking line on 01744 64 74 84, lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, and you will need your NHS number ready to make your appointment.

The ground floor of Saints' stadium houses the separate St Helens GP-led vaccination centre.