Published: Dec 28, 2020
As Covid-19 vaccinations continue to roll out across the UK, many hospitality venues are offering up their closed venue sites as vaccine hubs in a bid to crease the numbers of vaccinated patients.
In a bid to meet February’s vaccine target of 15 million patients in the top four priority groups - with an additional 2500 vaccine sites set up by spring - trade body UK Hospitality suggests the sector could be incredibly beneficial in helping in the rollout of the vaccine.
In a statement, CEO Kate Nicholls said the government needs to provide the sector with a clear picture on how it intends to use the next couple of months to help the public, noting the hospitality sector can assist in the roll out of the vaccine and that members are keen to help in the process.
“Our sector is sitting on well-ventilated, Covid-secure spaces such as hotels, conference centres, pubs and restaurants which can be used, and businesses are already coming forward to offer locations to expedite a mass vaccination programme.”
Numerous restaurants, pubs, pharmacies and conference centres up and down the country are continuing to jump on board this new campaign, including North Staffordshire Restaurant The Milehouse and Sanctuary Bar in North Staffordshire. Offering to transform the venues into secure vaccination hubs, hospitality is pulling together to help ensure the sector can reopen in the spring.
Brewdog co-founder James Watt recently hit the headlines after stating the company could further offer its shuttered pubs across the UK to aid the rollout of a vaccine.
In a post on Twitter, he said: “Hi @MattHancock & @NicolaSturgeon. We would like to offer our closed @Brewdog venues to help with a quick roll out of the vaccine. For free. We have waiting areas, huge refrigerators, separate rooms for vaccinations and an ace team who can help organise. We want to help.”
Various Birmingham locations, including the Millennium Point centre will also become the first Covid-19 mass vaccination centre to operate in the Midlands. The centre will be run by the NHS in Birmingham & Solihull as part of the region’s Covid-19 vaccination programme. In addition to this, high street pharmacies in England have signed up and will begin vaccinating people from priority groups - with more than 200 locations across the country providing jabs for local residents.
Since March 2020, the hospitality sector has been hit hard by multiple lockdown restrictions, resorting to serving only takeaways and collection only services. This current period of waiting now allows hundreds of empty venues to step up and take action in their own hands.
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