Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Cathedral hits the right note as a vaccine venue
THE coronavirus vaccine rollout has been music to all of our ears - but people getting the vaccine at one new West hub will literally be getting music to their ears.
Salisbury Cathedral is the latest major public building to be confirmed as a vaccine centre.
And the 800-year-old cathedral in the Wiltshire city will have several of its expert musicians playing throughout the day today as people wait for their vaccines.
The cathedral will open its doors as a venue for the Sarum South Primary Care Network Covid-19 Local Vaccination Service.
Local GPs have invited patients who are in the over-80s priority group to attend to have their first Covid-19 jab.
The GP practices that are inviting patients to the cathedral today are Salisbury Medical Practice, Harcourt Medical Centre, Three Chequers Medical Practice, Downton Surgery and Whiteparish Surgery.
Only patients who have been invited by the NHS should attend, and are asked to arrive only five minutes before their appointment time.
Patients not invited should wait to be contacted by the NHS.
David Halls, director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, and John Challenger, assistant director of music, will be providing a programme of music throughout the day on the famous Father Willis organ.
Dr Dan Henderson, co-clinical Director for Sarum South Primary Care Network, said: “It’s great to be further expanding the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Wiltshire.
“Today marks another step towards getting our lives back to normal. I understand that people are keen to get their jabs but please don’t call your doctor or the hospital asking about when you will get an appointment. We are following the priority order set out by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the NHS will be in touch when it is your turn to be vaccinated.
“The huge vaccine programme is a marathon, not a sprint, but we will get to everyone.”