As part of the NHS ‘Grab-a-jab’ campaign, Sefton Park will be hosting Liverpool’s first mass vaccination event this weekend.

On Saturday 10th July (8am-8pm) & Sunday 11th July (8am-6pm), anyone aged 18+ can get their Covid-19 vaccine – and with thousands of vaccines available, no appointment is necessary.

Led by Central Liverpool Primary Care Network, and supported by Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, the pop-up centre will be located at Review Field, Sefton Park, next to Croxteth Gate and will offer both 1st and 2nd doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.

The weekend event is expected to be busy, so everyone attending is being asked to follow social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings, unless they are exempt – and not to attend – if they have any Covid-19 symptoms.

Anyone feeling unwell, is urged to book a PCR test and stay at home until the result is known.

Everyone can now access twice weekly symptom-free Covid-19 testing, so the park is also offering an opportunity to get tested at one of the mobile units, located at Oasis in the Park Café/Eros Fountain.

If you can’t make it to this event, you can find details or other drop-in sessions taking place around the city at: www.liverpoolccg.nhs.uk/dropinvaccination

You can also book an appointment slot at a local clinic by visiting: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119.

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Cllr Frazer Lake, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health said “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get vaccinated, especially those younger residents who have only recently become eligible. I know it’s been a tough 18 months for us all, and that people are fatigued by talk of the virus, but infection rates amongst our 18-24s are now some of the highest in the city – so we need our young people to help with the fight against Covid-19. Remember the virus doesn’t discriminate by age – so even if you weren’t really unwell at the time, it doesn’t mean you won’t be affected by side effects of long Covid, such as exhaustion, loss of taste or smell and joint pain, weeks or months later. The vaccine offers us the best way to get back to doing the things we love- whether that’s having a night out in town, going to a music festival or attending a sporting event without the constant fear of spreading it to others.”

Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health Liverpool said “Capacity over the weekend means we will be able to vaccinate up to 8,000 people, which will make a real impact on our vaccination rates. We still have a significant number of people in the city who are overdue their second vaccine, and this pop-up event means accessing the vital second dose has been made a little easier. The wait between doses has now been reduced to 8 weeks for everyone and having both doses of the vaccine is the best way to stop yourself from getting seriously ill – as worryingly hospital admissions from Covid-19 are rising again, especially for those people who have been eligible, but haven’t yet had their vaccines.”

Dr Cait Taylor, a local GP and one of the Clinical Directors of Central Liverpool Primary Care Network said: “It’s great that nearly 70% of adults have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, however we want to reach those who haven’t yet come forward and also encourage people who have reached eight weeks since their first dose to have a second, for maximum protection. The easing of all Covid restrictions from 19th July means it’s even more important that people are protected by being fully vaccinated.”