London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Covid-19 vaccination staff see "low" numbers at Newcastle hub

Covid-19 vaccination staff see "low" numbers at Newcastle hub

A volunteer at Newcastle's Covid-19 vaccination hub says "staggeringly low" numbers of people are using the site.

Oskar Avery, who is also a councillor for Blakelaw, told a health committee the vaccine facilities at the Centre for Life were becoming a "dead zone".

It comes as figures show just over half of Newcastle's eligible population has received a booster dose so far, while only 75% have had their first jab.

Labour councillor Mr Avery called for the city to "get the momentum back".

The Centre for Life became the North East's first mass vaccination hub when the rollout started.

In January 2021 it saw people, including elderly people, queuing outside for an hour to get their jabs - with some people turning up more than an hour early for appointments.

'Dwindled away'


Professor Neil Watson, who leads the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the North East and North Cumbria, praised staff for their work over the past 13 months - working long hours with minimal time off work.

"Our service at the Centre for Life, like all our large vaccination centres across the region, are running on minimal staff because we know vaccination uptake is currently low," he said.

"Instead the majority of our workforce have been running mobile services and pop-up clinics in local communities and supporting school aged vaccination services, making it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccine."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service found the vaccination figures for Newcastle lagged behind the latest government figures to 16 February, which show more than 91% of people in the UK have had a first dose, 84.9% their second, and 65.9% have had a booster.

Mr Avery said: "I volunteer at the vaccination centre and we are now getting more over-21s who are in with their children than people coming for boosters or vaccinations.

A key worker waiting for her vaccination at the site in January 2021, ahead of a mass roll-out


"If it wasn't for the under-18s coming from the college and international students it would be a dead zone for most of the day, it really does seem to have dwindled away.

"We desperately need to get the momentum back. You say just over 50% of people [in Newcastle] have had their booster but there is almost no one coming in, they are staggeringly low numbers.

"Lots and lots of staff are sitting around with nothing to do, there are extended periods of people playing quizzes and reading books because there is literally no one there to be vaccinated."

Responding to Mr Avery's concerns, Lorna Smith, Newcastle's deputy public health boss, said a "fit for purpose" vaccine plan was being developed which was not based on "urgency or panic" but on communities.

She added: "What we don't want is staff who are very tired and overworked then being asked to resource a shift that actually isn't needed."


Inside Newcastle's Covid mass vaccination centre


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×