Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, has reacted with delight to the news that a major vaccination hub is about to be opened by the NHS at the Mill Hall Arts and Events centre, in Rayleigh.
Mark has been lobbying NHS bosses to open such a centre for weeks, following reports that the hub was originally due to open in January but had been delayed. Last Wednesday, 3 February, Mark took part in a one hour Zoom meeting with Mr Paul Scott, the new Chief Executive of the Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT), who are overseeing the roll out of the major vaccination centres in Essex, during which Mark pressed hard for the new hub to open in Rayleigh as soon as possible.
For their part, the NHS bosses were keen to point out that, once the centre opens, residents should wait to be contacted and called forward for their Covid jabs and should not merely turn up at random at the new centre, as this would only be likely to interrupt the efficient running of the vaccination programme.
As of this weekend, over 10 million U.K. citizens have received a least one jab of a Covid vaccine, compared to over three million in Germany and some two million in France. It is hoped that the new centre at the Mill Hall, which should be fully open in week commencing 12th February (subject only to anticipated bad weather) will be able to administer thousands of Covid jabs a week, to further accelerate the roll out of the vital vaccination programme in Essex.
Commenting on the new vaccination hub at the Mill Hall, Mark Francois said:
“This is truly excellent news about the Mill Hall being used as a new major vaccination hub, in the heart of my constituency. Alongside its sister hubs at Runwell and the Cliffs Pavillion in Southend, this should help to significantly boost the roll out of the crucial vaccination programme. This will not only help protect my constituents and others from this wicked virus but should also assist towards eventually lifting us out of Lockdown and rebooting our local economy in Essex as a result. I am delighted that my representations and those from Rochford District Council, who offered up the venue, have been listened to and that this new facility will soon be there to help.”
