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Mass vaccine centre opens in Folkestone at former Debenhams store
13:33, 26 January 2021
updated: 08:43, 27 January 2021
The new mass vaccination centre in Folkestone is now open and has started delivering Covid-19 jabs to Kent residents.
It has opened in the former Debenhams store, in Sandgate Road, which has been transformed into a medical centre fit to administer thousands of vaccinations each week.
KMTV report on the opening of Kent's first mass vaccination centre
It is the first large-scale coronavirus vaccination centre in the county, although more are expected to open in the coming months.
'Vaccination pods' can be seen set up inside the former department store, which is still fitted with signs pointing to handbags and menswear.
Partitions featuring vintage NHS photos separate vaccine-receivers.
Although only two vaccine pods are open today, at full capacity six will be open throughout the store.
This will mean around 3,000 people a day could receive the vaccine.
Ruth and John Woodroffe, from Sandgate, were among the first to receive the jab.
Mr Woodroffe said: "It feels brilliant. A big relief to get it.
"The organisation here is very good, it's very efficient. We're really pleased."
Richard Hollands was also vaccinated. He said he didn't feel a thing and 'would recommend' it to everyone.
The centre is being run by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), which has enlisted an army of vaccinators and support staff to deliver the jabs.
The trust says the site will increase the number of vaccinations it delivers in the weeks ahead and will operate from 8am until 8pm, seven-days-a-week.
KCHFT chief executive Paul Bentley said: “This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken and we are delighted to be playing such a vital part in this rollout to the wider public.
"We are well used to delivering thousands of vaccines a year through our school and community vaccination programmes.
"Our staff are doing an incredible job to deliver vaccinations at the same time as continuing to be there for anyone who needs our care.
"This really is partnership work at its finest. We are supported by colleagues from across the healthcare system and thanks to our volunteers, local councils and some of our emergency services’ colleagues, we can now roll out the vaccine to protect the communities we care for."
Although the centre is capable of delivering thousands of jabs each week, operations will be scaled up and down according to vaccine supplies and demand.
People being invited to have a jab there need to live within a 45-minute car journey.
Those who book in to a vaccine centre will receive a pre-vaccination assessment before they receive their injection.
Appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are urged not to turn up early to avoid queues. The whole process should take about 15 minutes from start to finish.
Debenhams closed in Folkestone in January last year and the large unit has been empty ever since.
The shop was rebranded Folca after it was bought by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) in May for £2million.
The authority offered it to the NHS in December to be used as a vaccine centre.
FHDC leader Cllr David Monk said: "We are delighted to be able to provide the use of our buildings and particularly this site to be part of such a momentous rollout.
"The plan has always been that we want it to benefit the town and the wider community.
"What better way for it to be used in the interim than as vaccination centre playing a pivotal role in making our community safer."
The Folkestone district is already home to three other GP-led vaccination centres - at Lydd Airport on Romney Marsh, at Oaklands Health Centre in Hythe and at the Civic Centre in Folkestone, which is a drive thru centre.
At the airport, 1,100 vaccines were given out in the first three days of operation.
For more information about the vaccine site at Debenhams, including parking, visit kentcht.nhs.uk/service/kent-vaccination-centres/
