After just over two years, the Covid vaccination centre at STEAM Museum has administered its last jab and then close on Saturday.

The centre opened its doors in December 2020 and since then has provided 463,307 vaccinations, which accounts for 17 per cent of all COVID-19 vaccinations given out across the Swindon, Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset region.

Swindon Borough Council has thanked staff and volunteers for their support ahead of the centre’s closure on Saturday, January 28. 

697 volunteers supported the massive operation, helping out as car park marshals and patient coordinators.

To mark the occasion, volunteers and staff at the centre gathered at lunchtime during the final clinic to enjoy some cake and other refreshments as a small gesture to thank them for their huge efforts.

Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for adults and health, said: “The hard work that has taken place at the STEAM Museum’s vaccination centre over the last two years is something for Swindon to be proud of.

"The staff and volunteers at STEAM are truly our heroes and their hard work and selflessness has meant that thousands of people across the borough have been able to get their COVID-19 vaccine over the past two years.”

Steve Maddern, Swindon Borough Council’s director of public health, added: “I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone at STEAM who volunteered and helped administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The staff and volunteers at the centre have truly played their part in supporting Swindon through the pandemic by enabling so many people to get a vaccine.”

The efforts of the town's volunteers were also praised by the  Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board,

Gill May, Chief Nurse said: “The Steam Museum has been an essential site for our vaccination program for more than two years, and has helped to deliver around a fifth of all COVID-19 vaccinations that have been given out in our region.

“And while it is bittersweet to leave this venue after so long, we do so in a much better place, with the vast majority of our population now vaccinated against COVID-19, and the height of the pandemic firmly behind us.

“Of course, we will continue to keep a close eye on COVID-19, and should there be a need to stand-up a large vaccination site in Swindon in the future, we will absolutely be ready to go again.”

Other vaccination clinics will continue to run across Swindon: www.swindon.gov.uk/coronavirus for more details.