More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A cathedral and a council-owned community centre have joined a football stadium among the possible locations for a mass Covid vaccine centre proposed to the government, an MP has confirmed.
At least three sites in Medway have now been proposed to the government and the NHS as calls grow for the Towns to have their own dedicated large vaccine hub.
Rochester Cathedral, which has been used as a testing centre already in the pandemic, has offered its services along with Medway Council proposing the St George's Centre on the university campus at Chatham Maritime.
Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, confirmed to KentOnline both sites have been put forward.
It also emerged Gillingham Football Club chairman Paul Scally has offered the Priestfield Stadium to host a vaccine centre.
Ms Tolhurst says Medway must have its own large-scale vaccination centre in order to make sure roll out keeps pace.
She told KentOnline: "I am entirely supportive of a large vaccination centre in Medway and have raised sites with NHS South East and the CCG.
"They are presently looking to expand capacity at Medway Maritime Hospital for the community but I also hope that further sites can be set up.
“I am aware that the council has offered St George’s Centre, just off of Dock Road, which could make a great site as a large spacious building with plenty of parking.
“Rochester Cathedral has also offered to become a vaccine site and has already done a great job with mass testing in the crypt.
“It makes sense for Medway to have a separate large vaccination centre as the most densely and highly populated part of Kent which has suffered with some of the highest infection rates in the country over the past months.”
It comes after the NHS confirmed a vaccination centre for north Kent will open at the Woodville Halls in Gravesend on Tuesday.
The theatre will be issuing thousands of vaccines each week for residents living within a 45-minute distance.
The Towns has six confirmed centres with a seventh – the second centre covering the Hoo Peninsula – due to be confirmed this week, Ms Tolhurst said.
Two pharmacy run centres – at Boots at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham and Lawsat Pharmacy at Cliffe Woods Community Hall – are set to open on February 4.
Medway Maritime Hospital will be expanding its vaccine capacity next month to enable it to offer hundreds of appointments during weekend clinics.
The hospital in Gillingham is currently vaccinating staff and patients in the top four priority groups coming to or staying in the hospital following appointments or treatment.
Boris Johnson confirmed on Wednesday there would be a mass vaccine centre for Medway after Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti called for assurances from the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson said a vaccine centre would be opened "near him" for Medway but did not disclose the location.
The county's first mass vaccination centre opened in Folkestone on Tuesday this week.
