A town's Covid vaccine centre has closed after delivering more than 100,000 doses since it opened 22 months ago.

The facility at King's Lynn's Shakespeare Barn shut down after completing its autumn booster programme.

West Norfolk mayor Leslie Bambridge visited the centre to thank staff and volunteers.

“My heartfelt thanks go to each and every member of the vaccination team who have played such a vital role in helping to protect thousands of King’s Lynn residents from getting seriously ill from Covid-19 and giving hope of a brighter future,” she said.

The town's first large-scale vaccination centre opened at the Corn Exchange in February 2021 and delivered 46,209 doses before the facility moved to the Shakespeare Barn in nearby King Street six months later.

Since August 2021, some 55,588 doses have been delivered there, bringing the total number of vaccines up to 101,797.

Mike Passfield, clinical operations director for the large-scale vaccination centres run by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust across Norfolk, said: “We’d like to thank all our amazing staff and volunteers for their dedication, compassion, and hard work that has helped to protect thousands of local people from Covid-19.” 

Retired nurse Carole Woodlow is one of thousands of healthcare professionals who returned to the NHS to support the coronavirus effort, having already clocked up 37 years working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn.

“I joined the team in February 2021 when we opened the vaccination site at the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn," she said.

"There was such a buzz, and the adrenaline was certainly flowing when we were vaccinating 400 to 500 people a day.

“What makes me most proud now is walking down the High Street and seeing more people walking about and being normal again and knowing that I’ve done something towards that.”

Those eligible can still receive jabs via pharmacies and outreach programmes which provide vaccinations in community locations, care homes and for the housebound.