Mass vaccination centre in Llanelli to move from Ffwrnes theatre

To allow the Ffwrnes theatre to reopen as an entertainment venue, Hywel Dda University Health Board has confirmed that it is moving Llanelli’s mass vaccination centre to Dafen Industrial Estate.

The centre’s last day in its current location will be Thursday 29 July. Walk-ins will continue to be available every day at The Ffwrnes between 10.00am and 6.00pm until it closes.

Llanelli’s mass vaccination centre will reopen in its new location at Unit 2a on Heol Cropin in Dafen (SA14 8QW) on Monday 2 August and will be accepting walk-ins seven days a week between 10.00am and 6.00pm for first and second doses with Astrazeneca, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available.

The health board have said that several venues across Llanelli were visited to identify a venue suitable to deliver a complex mass vaccination programme in terms of size, availability and accessibility in preparation of the return of The Ffwrnes theatre to Carmarthenshire County Council.

Ros Jervis, Director of Public Health, said: “The Ffwrnes theatre has provided a wonderful venue for our Llanelli mass vaccination centre in the heart of the town centre but, as the venue continues its reopening to audiences, our vaccination programme will go on at a new location in Dafen Industrial Estate.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and every person who has played a role, no matter how big or small, in the success of this mass vaccination centre that has delivered over 50,000 vaccines.

“The new location, situated near the current COVID-19 testing centre, will provide a long-term location for our vaccination programme.

“We understand for some people this may be further to travel, but we cannot stress how important it is, with the recent rise in cases, that people come forward for their first dose and receive their second vaccine dose when invited.

“If someone is unable to attend their appointment at our new location by any other means, the health board has transport support in place which can be arranged via our Command Centre by calling 0300 303 8322 or emailing covidenquiries.hdd@wales.nhs.uk.”

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said: “We were pleased to offer the use of our Ffwrnes Theatre to be used as a mass vaccination centre – just one of the many ways the council has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are proud to play our part in this ground-breaking immunisation programme – our theatres are usually a place where people visit to immerse themselves in culture, and it has been somewhat different welcoming thousands of people through the doors to get their vaccinations.

“We thank wholeheartedly every person who has worked so tirelessly behind the scenes and on the front line delivering the vaccine to our residents.”

(Lead image: Carmarthenshire Council)