Taunton becomes sixth track to join vaccination fight with aim of 900 jabs a day

Taunton racecourse has been announced as one of ten new mass vaccinations centres opening in England to help speed up the delivery of coronavirus vaccines, racing's latest assistance to the crucial scheme.

The Somerset track joins Newbury, Epsom, Beverley, Newcastle and Leicester as racecourses helping to immunise members of the community, with around 900 people to be given their Covid-19 jabs each day at the vaccination centre once the site is fully operational.

The site at Taunton will be open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, starting on Monday, although it will be closed this Saturday when the track hosts an excellent card featuring the Weatherbys Portman Cup Chase, live on ITV4.

Taunton is the sixth racecourse to open a vaccination centre, similar to the one seen here at NewburyCredit: Newbury Racecourse

Managing director Bob Young said: "Taunton racecourse is very pleased to be able to help the NHS by accommodating the vaccine centre.

"We're all immensely grateful and full of admiration for our NHS staff and hope that the people of Taunton and surrounding areas will benefit from a vaccination jab as soon as possible."

The government has said it plans to vaccinate all over 70s, healthcare workers and those required to shield – thought to be in the region of 15 million people – by mid-February, when the current nationwide lockdown will be reviewed.

Read more

Newbury the latest track to open its doors as mass vaccination centre

Leicester's vaccination hub aiming for 1,500 jabs a day in Covid-19 response

Vaccinations under way at Epsom as track becomes one of seven mass centres

Newcastle racecourse joins the roster of Covid-19 vaccination centres

Beverley joins fight against coronavirus to serve as a vaccination centre

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