The county’s first drive-through Covid-19 vaccine clinic is opening at Ewood Park this morning giving residents the chance to score their hat-trick of jabs at the home of Blackburn Rovers.

From Tuesday, January 11, anyone aged 12 years and above will also be able to walk into the pop-up facility, based on Car Park D off Bolton Road, Blackburn.

It will be open 8.30am until 7.30pm, seven days a week, and run by a team from Everest Pharmacy, with support from Army personnel.

It is offering booster jabs, as well as first and second doses to everyone aged 12 and over.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds can also get their boosters at this site if it has been at least 91 days since their second dose.

The new site is part of the national drive to get as many people boosted as possible due to the new Covid-19 variant and is one of only a few drive-throughs in the country.

Lancashire Telegraph: The drive through vaccination centre at Ewood Park, BlackburnThe drive through vaccination centre at Ewood Park, Blackburn

No appointments are necessary and people can either go inside the mobile unit for their jab if they are a walk-in or park in a bay in their car and the vaccinator will come to them.

Jane Scattergood, Chief Nurse and Senior Responsible Officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria, is urging people to get their booster jab without delay.

She said: “Anyone aged 16 and over who has had a second vaccine more than 91 days ago should come forward and get their booster.

“But importantly, we also very much want to see you if you haven’t had a vaccine at all yet. It’s never too late to have your first dose and there will be no questions asked – we will just be pleased that you’ve come forward and we will give you a vaccination that offers the best protection against the virus.”

All adults in England are eligible for a booster COVID vaccine, as long as it has been three months, or 91 days, since your second dose.

People also have to wait 28 days after a positive COVID test result to have a vaccine, or 12 weeks if aged 12-17.

Public health director, Prof Dominic Harrison said: “We now know that two doses of the COVID vaccine are not enough to protect us against the latest variant.

“The booster is massively important in the fight against the Omicron variant to give us maximum protection, and to significantly reduce our likelihood of needing hospital treatment should we become ill with COVID.

“It is the best protection we have, alongside continued infection control practices, to help us safely navigate this stage of the pandemic.”

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan CBE added: “I’m very proud that Blackburn with Darwen is able to host the county’s first drive-through vaccination site and am hopeful that the convenience will encourage more residents to get their booster dose at this critical stage in the Omicron wave.

“My thanks go to Blackburn Rovers FC for their continued support for our pandemic response.”