As the covid vaccination programme in Lincolnshire and across the country enters the final sprint, the NHS is holding a 'big weekend' of vaccine-related activity.

The aim is to encourage people to get vaccinated and help meet the ambition of offering everyone aged 18 or over a vaccination by July 19.

Lincolnshire will be playing its part in the 'big weekend' and aims to make vaccines easily and readily available, by offering a number of walk-in services, where appointments won't be required, during the weekend.

The first of these will be held at The Arboretum, Lincoln (Monks Road entrance), where a mobile unit will offer Pfizer walk-in vaccinations, both first and second doses, on a 'first come, first served' basis between 12pm-3pm on Saturday 26th June, to anyone aged 18 or over who is eligible.

On Sunday 27th June, Newlands Pharmacy, Lincoln, will be offering Pfizer walk-in vaccinations on a 'first come, first served' basis between 10am-2pm, to anyone 18 or over who is eligible, including both first and second doses.

On Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June, the Storehouse in Skegness will also be providing walk-in Pfizer vaccinations between 8.30am-5pm using Pfizer for both first and second doses, on a 'first come, first served' basis.

In addition to this, both of the county's Mass Vaccination Centres (MVC) will offer vaccinations on a walk-in basis on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June. PRSA MVC, Boston, will offer walk-ins between 8am-7pm using both AZ and Pfizer vaccines (in line with JCVI guidance those aged 40 and over will receive either vaccine, however, there will be no individual choice of vaccine) and those aged 39 and under will be offered Pfizer. The MVC at the Lincolnshire Showground will offer AZ vaccinations on a walk-in basis to people in cohorts 1-10 (aged 40 and over) between 8am-7pm.

Rebecca Neno, Deputy Chief Nurse, NHS Lincolnshire CCG, said: "We are thrilled with the uptake of the Covid vaccination so far in Lincolnshire, and after seven months of vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people across the county we are nearly there.

"We are well on track to have offered everyone eligible a vaccination by 19th July, however, there are some people who might not have taken up the offer of a vaccination to-date, and the walk-ins offer a great opportunity to get a first vaccination or bring forwards your second vaccination if it is eight weeks or more since your first vaccination."

Lincolnshire CCG expect the walk in sessions to be busy so please do be patient if you have to wait a few minutes. There is no requirement to be registered with a GP or to have an NHS number to attend, however, if you do have an NHS number and have it to hand this can speed up the process.

Rebecca added: "In addition to the walk-ins, we have good availability for vaccination pre-booked appointments across the county at our Mass Vaccination Centres at PRSA, Boston, and at the Lincolnshire Showground, as well as at pharmacies in Lincoln and Boston, and also at the Meres Local Vaccination Centre in Grantham.

"My key message to people is it's not too late, there is still chance to get vaccinated, and please make sure you get vaccinated twice to gain the maximum protection.

As 'big weekend' approaches, the Mass Vaccination Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground will celebrate giving its 100,000th vaccination. This is a remarkable achievement coming just four months since the centred opened and less than two months since it hit 50,000 vaccinations. Rebecca concluded: "This is a huge achievement for Terry Vine and his team at the Showground MVC, and I would like to congratulate them and all of my colleagues across the county for what they have achieved and what they continue to achieve. Without them we wouldn't be entering the final sprint part of the vaccination programme in such a good place." Walk-in vaccinations will be available over the weekend at the following locations: The Arboretum (Monks Road entrance) – mobile unit offering Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 12pm-3pm Saturday 26th June Newlands Pharmacy – offering Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 10am-2pm Sunday 27th June PRSA MVC, Boston – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins (no individual choice of vaccine, will be administered according to JCVI guidance), first and second doses, 8am-7pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June Lincolnshire Showground MVC – offering AZ only walk-ins, first and second doses for people in cohorts 1-10/aged 40 and over, 8am-7pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June Storehouse, Skegness – offering Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 8.30am-5pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June You can find your NHS number online here and please only attend if you are eligible – click the following link for more information on eligibility.