THE Black Country Living Museum in Dudley has opened as a mass vaccination centre for people in the West Midlands as part of the Government’s roll out of the UK coronavirus vaccine programme.

After weeks of planning, the vaccination centre was finally getting up and running today (Monday January 25).

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care at Dudley Council, hailed the opening of the centre as “fantastic news" and he said: "It's a real game changer in our fight across the borough against the coronavirus.

"“Having the Black Country Living Museum on board as a vaccination centre will greatly increase the amount of jabs we can deliver, and the speed at which we can administer them. It will make people safer from this deadly virus more quickly."

The site in Tipton Road, which is famed for being the filming location for hit TV series Peaky Blinders, was chosen due to its good transport links and well-known location on the edge of Dudley.

Andrew Lovett, museum chief executive, said: “By hosting the vaccine centre at the museum we’re able to support the NHS in providing immunisation for the local community. People who book an appointment when they’re eligible and receive the vaccine will be helping the NHS in the most important public health initiative it has ever undertaken. The vaccination programme is obviously a very important part of combatting the spread of Covid-19; although, in the meantime, continuing to adhere to restrictions and hygiene measures also remains critical.”

The centre is in addition to the GP-led vaccination services already running in the Dudley borough.

Sally Roberts, chief nurse, Black Country and West Birmingham CCGs said progress to roll out the vaccinations to the most vulnerable had been "incredible" to date and she added: "I am delighted that our first vaccination centre, which will be capable of delivering thousands more vaccines each week is going live."

A number of people aged in their 70s have now started to be called to have a vaccination in the Dudley borough and those who have not yet received invites from their GP will be receiving a letter from the National NHS Booking Service to access this or other large vaccination centres. People won't be able to book unless they have received a letter.

Once people have received a letter they can book an appointment online at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination, or call 119.

People are urged not to call the museum directly to try to book and not to turn up without an appointment.