COLCHESTER United’s stadium is expected to run as a mass vaccination centre until late summer, it has been revealed.

The venue opened yesterday as a large-scale coronavirus vaccination centre for priority group residents.

The vaccination programme at the stadium, which is just off the A12, is being organised by the Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT).

Pam Sabine, director at EPUT and operational director for the coronavirus vaccination programme in Suffolk and north east Essex, said the stadium is a great venue to administer Covid-19 vaccines to residents from Colchester and the surrounding area.

She added: “I think the stadium has got all the facilities you would need for a mass vaccination centre.

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“It’s been great working with the general manager of the stadium who explained the venue is used to many people going in and out and controlling flow.”

The stadium has been used for concerts and conferences as well as football matches since it opened in 2008, and it was built to cope with thousands of people entering and exiting the venue safely.

Ms Sabine said the stadium is expected to be used as a vaccination centre until late summer if the vaccination programme runs as planned.

“It all depends on how the vaccine programme goes in the coming weeks and months before we know exactly how long the stadium will open as a vaccination centre,” she added.

“But the venue is certainly set up to deal with football fans as well as vaccines if fans can attend games in the summer months.”

For many months fans have not been able to attend Colchester United football matches due to coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns.

She added: “We vaccinate as many people as we can get through each day, which will be in the hundreds.”

Thousands of people should receive their coronavirus jabs each week at the stadium.

The vaccines are taking place on the concourses beneath the seating, and a walk through system is in place so people adhere to the latest coronavirus restrictions.

Tim Waddington, general manager of Colchester United, said the first day of vaccinations at the venue went as smoothly as it hoped.

He added: “The people who were vaccinated yesterday are one step closer to having their grandchildren over again.

“A lot of the people who were vaccinated yesterday have been isolating for a long time.”

He said the opening and closing times of the vaccination centre will be “fluid” in the coming weeks.

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It is understood the vaccination appointments are set to end at 8pm.

Mr Waddington said the volunteers at the stadium have been “excellent”.

“They have been superb and bubbly when they greet patients,” he added.

“The NHS staff have been unbelievable and full of energy and commitment.”

Another mass vaccination centre is opening in north Essex on Sunday at Clacton Hospital, in Tower Road.

The NHS is urging people only to come to a vaccination centre when invited to do so, to help ensure that priority groups are served first and to maintain safe social distancing at every venue.