A second mass vaccination centre is to open in Cornwall within days in the continuing fight against the pandemic.

From this Monday (February 1), a new large-scale vaccination centre will open at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge, to vaccinate the most vulnerable in Cornwall.

The site opens a week after it was announced that Stithians Showground would become the first large scale vaccination centre in the continued roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Iain Davidson, clinical lead for the vaccination centres and hospital hub, and chief pharmacist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is further good news for Cornwall. The opening of this second vaccination centre will mean we will be able to protect even more people.

“We will continue to vaccinate the most vulnerable based on the priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI).

“People aged 70 and over, and adults of all ages who are the most vulnerable are also due to receive a letter inviting them to book an appointment as they are within the first four priority groups.

“Everyone across health and care, including the emergency services and volunteers, as well as those at the Royal Cornwall Showground, have put in a tremendous amount of effort to enable us to be ready for Monday, and I cannot thank them enough.”

People will receive a letter when it is their turn to have the vaccine. They are asked not contact the NHS to ask for a vaccine or show up to the showground without an appointment.

Iain Chorlton, GP and NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group chairman, said: “The vaccination centres will add to the fantastic work that GPs and the primary care network have been doing in recent weeks.

“Health and care staff have been working tirelessly to ensure we deliver the vaccine safely and efficiently, and it has been a privilege to work with these people.

“Cornwall has shown great strength in staying home and protecting the NHS these last 12 months, and we ask the public for their continued support in following national guidelines.”

While the additional vaccination centre means the NHS can expand its rollout, this will take some time, and people are asked to be patient. The NHS will be in touch with people when it is their turn.

Rachel Wigglesworth, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s director of Public Health, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the opening of the second vaccination centre for Cornwall. Whilst the vaccine programme continues to roll out, we must keep up with all the good work we have been doing to limit the spread of the virus.

“It’s really important that you please continue to limit your contact with other people, even after you have received your vaccine. The vaccine does not mean that you are immune immediately, so we can’t start hugging each other just yet, or stop following social distancing guidelines. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but in the meantime, we must keep our guard up.”

Chris Riddle, secretary for Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, said: "We are very pleased that we can help with the national roll-out and provide a further vaccination site for Cornwall. It has been a difficult year for everyone, and the fact that we can give back to our community in this way has been a great privilege."

Anyone attending an appointment at the vaccine centre will be greeted by volunteers who will marshal car parks and register them when they arrive. The centre has been organised to allow for social distancing.

They will receive a health check and a pre-vaccination assessment before the vaccine, and then be observed for 15 minutes afterwards.

Those who require extra support from a carer should have them attend the appointment but they are asked that this is kept to a maximum of one other person to maintain social distancing. Wheelchairs will be available for anyone who requires them, and disabled parking is available on site.

People attending their appointments should wear loose clothing to provide vaccinators easy access to the arm, and flat shoes.

Anyone receiving a jab should ask someone, wherever possible, to drive them to and from the site. This will allow them to receive a jab and return to their day as quickly as possible, and will mean more people can be vaccinated at the centre.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, visit NHS Kernow’s dedicated Covid-19 vaccine page.