Asda to be first supermarket to offer in-store Covid vaccinations
ASDA is to become the first supermarket in the UK to provide in-store coronavirus vaccinations.
The chain confirmed it will start to give Covid-19 jabs to the public from January 25.
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Asda will operate the vaccination centre using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from an in-store pharmacy in Birmingham.
The jabs will be given by qualified Asda pharmacy staff to priority groups identified by the NHS.
Latest figures show how more than 2.4 million people across the UK - almost 4% of the population - have now received their coronavirus jab.
Another 400,000 have been given out as second doses.
The Sun's Jabs Army - how to sign up
VOLUNTEERS for the Jabs Army are being asked to first register online at nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk
You will then receive an email with log-in details to sign up online.
Finally, you will be asked to download the GoodSAM app on a smartphone which will match you to a role in your area.
Services will be opening in the coming days and weeks, with different areas up and running at different times, so you might not be required on site for some weeks. Not everyone who signs up will need to be called upon.
You need to commit to only two six-hour shifts a month at a vaccination service, and no prior experience or qualifications are required.
You will work as part of a team that will include NHS staff and volunteers. The Royal Voluntary Service will conduct appropriate background checks.
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Meanwhile, Britain is currently leading the vaccination effort with the UK giving out 10 times more jabs than many of its European neighbours
A huge NHS operation has also seen seven mass vaccination hubs open across the country this week, supported by hundreds more GP surgeries, hospital hubs and pharmacy-led sites.
It comes as The Sun continues its Jabs Army campaign where we're calling on volunteers to help vaccinate the nation.
An incredible 35,000 people have signed up to the initiative so far, with big-name brands like Virgin Atlantic and New Look putting their weight behind the cause.
Other companies such as BT, Sky, Amazon, British Airways, easyJet, John Lewis, and Virgin Media are also supporting Jabs Army.
Asda customers will still need to wait for their NHS letter to get the jab - they won't be able to contact the store directly for one.
Once you've got your letter, you should have the option to select the Asda store as your vaccination location.
We've rounded up when you should expect to receive your vaccination letter here.
Asda confirmed to The Sun that in-store vaccines will only be available in its Birmingham branch for now.
But it says it has also offered the use of its pharmacies and qualified pharmacists to support the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine programme.
The supermarket will use its George department to make space for the vaccination centre, which will operate 8am to 8pm, seven days a week and have the capacity to administer 250 jabs per day.
Morrisons, meanwhile, has confirmed it will turn its car parks into drive-thru vaccine centres.
It comes as Boots became the first high street chain to offer coronavirus jabs this week.
Roger Burnley, Asda CEO and president, said: “We are incredibly proud to provide this service and are keen to do all we can to help the NHS and Government accelerate the rollout of the vaccination programme.
“We have an extensive nationwide logistics network that could support the storage and distribution of the vaccine and our highly-trained pharmacy colleagues are experienced in delivering large vaccination programmes, having recently provided nearly 200,000 flu jabs to members of the public.
“We are on hand to provide the NHS with any practical support required so that more people can quickly receive the vaccine.”
Mr Burnley wrote to Asda’s customers this morning to update them on the latest coronavirus restrictions.
In an email, he said: “It’s crucial that we all play our part, support one another, and help take the pressure off the NHS.”
Asda has around 600 supermarkets across the UK, including 238 in-store pharmacies.
All supermarkets are allowed to stay open during the third lockdown in England with the latest restrictions expected to stay in place until at least mid-February.
The third lockdown was announced due to rising cases of coronavirus, sparked by a new strain in the south of England.
The UK suffered its second deadliest day so far in the pandemic yesterday, with 1,243 fatalities reported.
The total number of infections is now 3,164,051 after 45,533 more tested positive.
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Click here for the latest supermarket lockdown rules for Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and M&S.
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