MILITARY personnel will be at Chester Cathedral from this week to help anyone aged 16 or above get their Covid vaccine.

Christmas shoppers will be able to protect themselves and their families ahead of the festive season by walking into the new pop-up vaccination clinic at Chester Cathedral, adjacent to the Christmas markets, from December 15-21.

Military personnel will be supporting NHS staff at the clinic – operated by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – with shoppers eligible for a first, second or booster dose able to simply walk into the cathedral, on St Werburgh Street, to get a Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccination.

They will be available at the following times:

  • Wednesday, December 15 (10am-5pm)
  • Thursday, December 16 (11am-6pm)
  • Friday, December 17 (10am-5pm)
  • Saturday, December 18 (10am-5pm)
  • Sunday, December 19 (10am-5pm)
  • Monday, December 20 (10am-5pm)
  • Tuesday, December 21 (10am-5pm)

Current guidance is anyone aged 30 and over can get Covid vaccine boosters.

From Wednesday, the NHS is offering all those aged 18 or over a chance to get Covid booster vaccine appointments. However, it adds that some vaccination sites may offer a walk-in service for 18s and over from today (Monday, December 13) if they have spare capacity.

In Cheshire West and Chester, 85.8 per cent of those aged 12 and above have received one Covid vaccine dose, with 79.4 per cent receiving two doses.

A total of 43 per cent have received a booster dose already.

Clare Watson, Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured the support of military personnel for a week-long pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Chester Cathedral.

"The team will be delivering hundreds of vaccinations every day so please feel free to pop in if you’re eligible for a first, second or booster dose.

“If you are unable to attend a walk-in clinic, you can arrange your vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service, by calling 119 or by responding to an invitation from your local NHS service.”

The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester Cathedral said: “One year ago, we found ourselves closing the Cathedral doors as England went into lockdown.

"As we reopened in April of this year, we were pleased to assist Cheshire fight the pandemic by hosting a testing centre for Cestrians, and now, at our busiest time of year, we are delighted to help our community once again by hosting this pop-up vaccination clinic at the heart of the city.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We’re really pleased to play our part with our partners to hold this week-long clinic at the Cathedral. It’s never been more important for us all to look after each other, and getting your vaccine or booster is the best defence we have as a community against Covid-19.

“This clinic is all about making it easy for people to pop in and get it done so please make the most of that.”

Vaccination is clinically proven to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19 and your risk of catching or spreading Covid-19.

Currently, more than 2,000 new Covid cases a week are being reported in Cheshire West and Chester.

Two of those cases have been confirmed to be from the new Omicron variant, which is expected to become the dominant strain in the UK in the coming weeks and months.

Other walk-in vaccine clinics available are:

  • Vicar's Cross Pharmacy, Green Lane, Chester, CH3 5LB. Tuesday, December 14 (3pm-5.30pm) - Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna (including boosters)
  • Tarporley Community Centre, High Street, Tarporley, CW6 0AY. Monday, December 13 (9am-6pm), Tuesday, December 14 (midday-6pm), Wednesday, December 15 (9am-6pm), Thursday, December 16 (9am-3pm) - Pfizer and AstraZeneca (including boosters)
  • Bishop Heber High School, Chester Road, Malpas, SY14 8JD. Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 (9am-6pm) - Pfizer and AstraZeneca (including boosters)
  • Chester Mosque and Islamic Centre, Clifton Drive, Blacon, CH1 5LT. December 31 (10am-5pm) - Pfizer and AstraZeneca (including boosters)