Covid: Huge queues at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre pop-up vaccine site

A pop-up Covid vaccine clinic in Sheffield reached capacity shortly after opening - prompting officials to ask people not to attend.

Over-18s were invited to attend no-appointment drop-in sessions at the Crucible Theatre on Saturday.

An online post advertising the clinic, open between 09:00 and 14:00 BST, was shared thousands of times.

The clinic initially had 500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available, and managed to secure a further 200.

But all were allocated shortly after the venue opened its doors, with late joiners being offered alternative venues, officials said.

Dr Tom O'Brien, who was involved in the initiative, said he was delighted with the response, but was a little bit surprised by how many people turned up.

It showed "how keen" people were to get a jab, he added.

Some, including Charlie Hancock and Max Wedekind, both aged 20, turned up early to try and secure a place.

Mr Hancock said they were there at 04:30, and initially thought they had got the wrong place.

But after returning from getting breakfast, Mr Hancock said the queue was already getting quite long.

He said he wanted to get the jab after waiting "so long" and was "buzzing with excitement".

"It's an honour how far we have come with the vaccines," he added.

Another person in the queue said he wanted the jab in order to protect his family. Others said it would make them feel safer going out.

Health chiefs said more pop-up clinics were planned over the next few weeks, with churches providing space for sessions and trained volunteers administering the jabs.

A new walk-in vaccination service will also be available from Monday at the Octagon building near Weston Park, officials said.

Mass vaccination centre Sheffield Arena and GP surgeries are still taking vaccine appointments for people in the 25-29 cohort after they were invited by the government this week.

Dr Terry Hudson, from Sheffield's NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "There will be plenty of opportunity. Don't hesitate, get that jab in your arm."

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