The new service, which will be vaccinating hundreds of local people every day, is focussing first on groups of people who are most at risk.

Dorset HealthCare, along with Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and BCP Council, has transformed the BIC’s Purbeck Hall into a large clinic to deliver vaccinations.

A dedicated team of staff, supported by volunteers from local communities, will now run the centre 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to roll out vaccinations as quickly as possible.

This is the latest phase in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccination programme across Dorset, with vaccinations now being delivered in hospitals, GP-led community sites, and in care homes.

Vaccinations are being offered in line with national guidance to the most vulnerable first and you will be contacted by the NHS when it’s your turn to be vaccinated.

Dorset HealthCare’s director of Nursing, Therapies and Quality, Dawn Dawson, said, “This has been an enormous undertaking and we are incredibly proud and excited to be providing this important new service. We’re really experienced in providing vaccination services, including flu jabs and school immunisations, and we will use that skill to give our patients a positive, safe and efficient experience at the vaccination centre.”

GP and clinical lead for the Dorset Covid-19 vaccination programme, and Assistant Clinical Director of Dorset CCG, Karen Kirkham, said, “The Dorset health and care system has been working closely together for some time and that has set us up really well to deliver the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history to the people of Dorset. All partners in Dorset are playing an important part in making this happen and I’m delighted that we are able to step up the programme further with the opening of the large centre.”

Bookings will be made through a national system and people will receive a written invitation to book when it’s their turn.

If you already have an appointment through your GP, or at a local hospital hub, please attend that appointment. This will prevent wasted appointments that the NHS cannot fill at short notice.