An Odeon Cinema in Kent has opened as a Covid-19 vaccine centre.

Odeon Luxe, part of the Lockmeadow complex in Barker Road, Maidstone, has partnered with Pharmacy2U, the UK’s largest online pharmacy, to open the facility.

Vaccinations began from 8am yesterday (Wednesday) following the launch of other Covid-19 vaccinations centres across the country by Pharmacy2U.

Other locations include an Odeon cinema in Aylesbury, Newmarket and Aintree racecourses, Morrisons supermarkets in Yeovil and Winsford and Village Hotels in Leeds and Liverpool.

Patients will be contacted by the NHS via letter, text or email with information on how to book their appointment.

All vaccinations will be administered by a qualified healthcare professional and patients will be required to return for their follow-up jab.

Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, said: “This is a vitally important service for people across the country, ensuring the most vulnerable in our communities get this vaccination and protect themselves against Covid-19.

"The NHS has been working above and beyond expectation for almost a year. We’ve been working hard to make sure we can offer these sites and to continue the incredible achievements of the NHS.”

CEO Mark Livingstone added: “We are incredibly proud at Pharmacy2U to help play our part in protecting the most vulnerable people against Covid-19.

"The launch of our sites marks a huge step in increasing the number of people that will have access to the vaccine and we feel privileged to be able to do so.

"Our vaccination centres and fully trained first aiders will be supporting pharmacists to give patients these vital vaccinations, providing an essential service to help prevent the spread of this terrible virus.

"We’re working closely with the national and regional NHS teams to deliver further vaccination sites for patients in areas that need them most.”

Maidstone's Odeon has been shut for much of the last 10 months due to successive lockdowns and Covid restrictions.

It briefly reopened in October, having been closed since March.

The time had been used to carry out a complete redesign, with the introduction of luxury seating, including 615 recliners.

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