Parish joins vaccination drive as centre welcomes first patients

St Paul's Church in Sketty is playing its part in Wales' Covid-19 vaccination drive as it begins welcoming the first of thousands of patients.

Its parish centre has been set up as a vaccine centre, allowing the neighbouring surgery to continue as normal, and its first patients are arriving today.

Vicar Rev'd Robert Davies-Hannen said: "Our local doctors' surgery is next door to us so we were a logical place to use with a large hall, toilets and a 30-car car park.. It enables the surgery to carry on as normal while people are being vaccinated.

"There are 1,600 people in just the over-80 category and probably more will be added from the surrounding area.After the over-80s we will then welcome the over-70s so are expecting large numbers over the next few months if all goes to plan."

Revd Robert said the parish had been keen to get involved in the vaccination effort.

"We were as a parish really excited to help our community in this way and it is great to see the parish centre being used after such a long shutdown," he said. "It is not often in the inner city that you get the opportunity to welcome thousands of people through your doors."