Scottish Football Stadia To Serve As Drop-In COVID-19 Vaccination Centres
Three of Scotland’s major football club stadiums, Hampden Park, Celtic Park and Ibrox will open as drop-in COVID-19 vaccination centres this week.
A vaccination bus operated by Scottish Ambulance Service ran a clinic from 10am to 6pm at Celtic Park on Monday, with Rangers’ Ibrox and Hampden Park to follow suit on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
The vaccination bus will offer Moderna vaccinations to anyone aged 18 to 39 who has not yet had a first dose, or has been waiting for a second dose for more than eight weeks. AstraZeneca vaccinations will also be made available for people aged 40 and older as a first dose or as a second dose to anyone who is eight weeks from their first vaccination.
Details of the clinics were announced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Discussions are underway to identify further potential city centre sites for the vaccination bus to visit in the coming weeks.
Stewart Robertson, managing director of Rangers, said: “As a club we are delighted to have a drop-in clinic at Ibrox and to be able to support the ongoing vaccination effort.
“Being able to vaccinate as many people as possible is allowing us to return to a more normal day-to-day life, as well as welcome some fans back into the stadium on a match day. Many people have worked tirelessly to ensure vaccines are available at ease and we are proud to play a small part in supporting these efforts.”
Emilia Crighton, deputy director for public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “These venues have played a huge role in Glasgow’s history over the years and hold a special place in many people’s hearts.
“We’d all like to see them being used back at full capacity once again, and the key way to get there is by ensuring as many people get vaccinated as possible. This is why it’s so important that the public continues to come forward to roll up their sleeves.”
Celtic Park and Ibrox are preparing to welcome back a limited number of fans for the 2021-22 season, which begins this weekend whilst Hampden Park have only recently served as a host venue during the recent UEFA Euro 2020 national team tournament.
