Oxford health boss warns Covid jabs could happen every flu season

It is unclear whether the Kassam Stadium will be used again as a large-scale vaccine centre, however Dr Nick Broughton said there was ‘most definitely’ a possibility that the NHS is forced to continue its vaccine programme next year.

The chief executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust added that ‘we need to anticipate that we will be providing the vaccines next winter'.

Speaking to this paper yesterday at the trust's new mass-vaccination centre at the Kassam he said: “Is this going to be a seasonal problem like flu?

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"Do we need to prepare ourselves for delivering the vaccine again next winter?

"Those are the sort of conversations we are having.”

However, Dr Broughton was more focussed on appealing to people to get the Covid-19 vaccine now.

Oxford Vaccine Centre Day 2 - Kassam Stadium 26/01/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

He revealed that since Monday, when the mass centre opened its doors to frontline healthcare workers, at least 150 people had already been given their first dose.

Minutes after setting an example and receiving the AstraZeneca jab himself, he said: “I feel absolutely fine and I do not even like needles.

“It is a tiny scratch – no more than that, and thankfully no signs of side effects.

“I feel 100 per cent.”

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Speaking about what people can expect after receiving the vaccine, the CEO said that it is possible to experience ‘flu-like’ symptoms.

These include feeling sore, muscle aches, fever and drowsiness.

This is why, he added, people should make sure they have paracetamol at home to control any temperature they may develop.

However, he added that these side effects should resolve within 24 hours.

Dr Broughton also joined other scientists from across the country in urging people to get vaccinated if they are offered the opportunity.

Oxford Vaccine Centre Day 2 - Kassam Stadium 26/01/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

He commented: "I can understand people being apprehensive about the vaccine, but I would say to them – please have it.

"Today I was given it by Professor Andrew Pollard, who led the Oxford Vaccine Group and the development of the vaccine.

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"I have spoken to him and to many other scientists who have been involved in its making, and I am confident it is absolutely safe.

“We should all have it when we get the opportunity because it is the one thing that will help us get on top of this pandemic and also return to normality.”

The CEO revealed that his trust found out that a large-scale hub would have to be created in Oxfordshire in late November.

Oxford Health took on the role of being the lead provider for Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire West to help coordinate and manage the programme.

Professor Pollard and Dr Broughton meeting Tehmeena Ajmal, Covid operations director Picture by Ed Nix

Dr Broughton explained: "We identified the Kassam Stadium as a suitable venue given its size, location and available parking.

"Since then, a lot of planning went into place to design how we are going to use this facility to make sure we vaccinate as many residents as possible here."

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The CEO revealed that the trust dedicated an entire team to work on this mammoth of a project for a number of weeks, which also visited other mass hubs across the country to learn from their experience.

He added: “I think they have done a fantastic job.”

People aged 75 and over have also been offered appointments at the centre from Monday, February 1, via a national booking system.

They are being contacted by letter and by phone to make an appointment.

Dr Broughton said the numbers of people being vaccinated at the stadium would definitely rise from next week.