Over 1,000 appear for walk-in Covid vaccine jabs at Watford FC

Anyone aged 16 and over were encouraged to visit the home of Watford FC last Sunday (August 22) as the stadium opened up as mass pop-up vaccination clinic.

It marked the second “Super Sunday” clinic at the stadium, after nearly 2,000 people were vaccinated at a previous clinic in the stadium in June.

Now Watford Borough Council has revealed that 1,128 people had received a Pfizer jab at the stadium in the latest event.

The council had anticipated a decreased turnout this time compared to the first event, given how late into the vaccination rollout it is, however it is understood that just a “handful of vaccines” were left after over a thousand still attended for a jab.

Many young people attended the vaccination clinic, a council spokesperson said

The clinic was open for both first and second doses, but a spokesperson explained that most attendees were in the younger age groups and many were there for their first jab - although the ratio of first to second jabs issued has not been confirmed.

Vaccinations were delivered by a clinical team from across Watford, including Manor View Practice, Abbotswood Health Centre, Watford Health Centre, Sheepcot Medical Centre, Vine House Health Centre and Upton Road Surgery.

Benjamin, a Watford teenager who came along for his first dose, said about the vaccine: “Most of my friends are happy to go get it. They understand it’s important for everyone.”

This marked one of Watford's biggest efforts to drive vaccination rates up

Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “Thank you to everyone who got the vaccine: it is instrumental in the fight against Covid-19 and is the best way we can protect ourselves, our friends and family. It was also really good to see so many people there from groups who have been under-vaccinated so far. Well done to everyone who turned out, got their jab and were ‘vaccinated at the Vic.’”

Dr Asif Faizy, local GP and NHS Herts Valleys CCG board member said: “If you couldn’t attend today’s event – please remember that it’s never too late to join the thousands of people in west Hertfordshire who have made the decision to protect themselves and their families. You will always be warmly welcomed in our county’s vaccination clinics.”

Richard Walker, Watford FC’s Head of Communications and Media Relations: “We’re happy to have played our part in hosting this truly collective community effort. The relationship with our NHS next-door neighbours could not be any stronger right now and we look forward to working together in the future for the benefit of local people.”

For anyone who missed out on the Super Sunday clinic, there are also lots of community vaccination clinics and vaccination centres available to get vaccinated at a time and a place that suits you. For more information, visit covid.healthierfuture.org.uk.