CHESTER Cathedral will continue to offer Covid vaccines to visitors until New Year's Eve.

The walk-in vaccine centre at the cathedral had been due to end today (December 21), but amid huge demand and increasing national concern over the Omicron variant, the centre will be open for a further eight days, providing Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses including boosters to anyone aged 16 and over.

The new opening hours for the walk-in vaccine centre will be:

  • Wednesday, December 22, Thursday, December 23 (10am-5pm)
  • Friday, December 24 (10am-2pm)
  • Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed
  • Monday, December 27 (midday-5pm)
  • Tuesday, December 28, Wednesday, December 29, Thursday, December 30 (10am-5pm)
  • Friday, December 31 (10am-2pm).

The vaccine roll-out at Chester Cathedral has been backed by military personnel.

Soldiers from the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) have been administering thousands of Covid vaccinations to adults at the cathedral since the centre opened last week.

Vicar's Cross Vaccination centre in Green Lane is also continuing to offer Covid vaccines, and is open to anyone aged 12 and above from 3pm-7.30pm until December 23. Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna jabs are available including boosters.

Thousands more Covid-19 vaccination appointment slots are also available now across Cheshire after capacity was quickly doubled across the county in response to the Omicron variant.

An additional 30,000 booster jabs were administered in Cheshire last week – compared to the week before – with eligible residents encouraged to book ahead where possible via the National Booking Service (or by calling 119).

Clare Watson, accountable officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We’ve worked swiftly to enable as many people as possible to get their Covid-19 booster vaccinations as quickly as possible – doubling our capacity in the space of a week.

“There has been a fantastic response from the people of Cheshire so far, who recognise the importance of protecting themselves and their families from Covid-19 and the Omicron variant.

“If you’re eligible, please book ahead where possible to get a timed appointment slot and avoid having to queue. There are lots of options this week and next and dozens of sites to choose from.”

Vaccination is clinically-proven to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19 and your risk of catching or spreading Covid-19. In addition to the wide-ranging offer available via the National Booking Service, many GP-led services continue to call in eligible patients locally.

Nearly 54 per cent of people aged 12 and above have now had a Covid booster jab in Cheshire west and Chester – 175,424 people.