Heavy snow causes vaccination centres to close
The authorities running some of the vaccination centres in the region have made the decision to temporarily close because of the snowy and stormy conditions.
Five vaccination centres run by Suffolk GP Federation are closed due to the snow, plus the larger centres run by Suffolk and North Essex Vaccination Service.
The large scale Covid-19 vaccination centre at North Walsham in Norfolk was also shut on Monday.
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust which runs the centre said, "The safety of the largely elderly and vulnerable people coming along to this rural vaccination centre is our highest priority and because of the snow and ice it simply isn’t safe to open the Centre."
Safety was the priority in deciding what to do about the vaccination centres this week, said Dr David Vickers, medical director of the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
"Obviously like everybody else we look closely at the weather and the weather forecasts and we have our contingency plans in place in terms of what happens if we think a vaccinations centre is unsafe," said Dr Vickers
"One of our biggest priorities is to make sure the people coming to the centres who are often elderly and infirm are safe. And we don't want people travelling if the weather conditions are dangerous," he added
The other large scale centres in Norfolk at Castle Quarter Norwich, the Corn Exchange Kings Lynn, Connaught Hall Attleborough and Horsefair Shopping Centre in Wisbech would continue to operate, but the trust urged people to plan their journey carefully.
Heavy snow has left many roads in the region ‘impassable’ and police have warned to think twice before travelling.
Road conditions are very poor in some areas with large snow drifts blocking minor routes.
Closed centres
Debenham Community Centre
The EpiCentre, Haverhill
Trinity Park, near Ipswich
The Mix, Stowmarket
Woodbridge Community Hall
Clacton Hospital
Colchester Football Club
Gainsborough closed Monday and Tuesday/opening on Thursday and Friday
Chevington Close, Bury St Edmunds
The federation says they have over 10,000 free vaccine appointment slots between Tuesday and Sunday that people will be rebooked on.