WATCH: Inside Guernsey's community vaccination centre

Saturday 23 January 2021

The community vaccination centre has been hailed as the "most important milestone of the pandemic" by the Director of Public Health, with the capacity to vaccinate 100 people per hour.

The Sir John Loveridge has been converted into a dedicated vaccination hall, with waiting areas, vaccination pods and a post-vaccine observation area spread across the venue's significant floorspace.

"It is the most important milestone of the pandemic," said Public Health Director Dr Nicola Brink. "This is a game-changer."

Inside the new Community Vaccination Centre from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

Pictured: A walkthrough of the new facilities at Sir John Loveridge Hall. Video created by Spike Productions. 

Dr Brink added: "The other game-changers for me were the availability of on-island testing capacity, the availability of a vaccine and the way the community has worked together. We could have done all those things but if the community did not work together, we would not be in the position we are in."

People who choose to be vaccinated will be welcomed into the hall and will have their details checked before being directed to the waiting area, where seats have been spaced two metres apart. 

From there, people will be called to receive their vaccination in one of 15 'vaccinations pods'. People may then be asked to go to an observation area for around 15 minutes as a precaution. 

Covid Vaccine Lead Alex Hawkins-Drew said the creation of a dedicated, sanitary vaccination environment was the result of many months of planning. 

Pictured: Dr Nicola Brink said the opening of the mass vaccination centre will be a pivotal moment in the island's battle against Covid-19.

Around 2,000 over 75's have so far been invited for tests at the community vaccine centre, starting from Monday, around half of whom have booked in their appointments. 

"We have been encouraged by the response across all cohorts and there will be more people coming in," said Dr Brink. 

Mrs Hawkins-Drew said those who have yet to decide are free to set up an appointment to discuss the vaccine.

"We would encourage people to make a decision and it needs to be evidence-based," she said. "We would encourage them to speak to a GP or to make an appointment to speak to one of us here at the vaccination centre."