THE last Covid-19 vaccination jab at the Firepool site in Taunton is being given at 7pm this evening (Wednesday, March 16).

It comes as the site prepares to move to a fresh site off the town centre at the start of next month.

The Tower Vaccination Centre will go live at the start of April at the former bus station in Tower Street.

Both Firepool and the bus station sites are owned by Somerset West and Taunton Council.

The new location is undergoing a number of repairs as it gets ready to be used.

In the interim period, the vaccination team will be offering a roving service at planned pop-up clinics in and around the Taunton area.

Since the Firepool site opened in October 2021, the vaccination team based there have administered more than 111,000 jabs.

Gary Risdale, programme manager for the Somerset Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: “The vaccination programme across Somerset has been extremely successful with almost 1.4 million vaccinations given to 92 per cent of the population.

"Firepool - and previously the site at Taunton Racecourse - have been an integral part of this.

"We are extremely thankful to the public for the willingness they have shown to come forward and have their vaccinations and to the staff who have worked tirelessly in helping to deliver this.

"It is vital to ensure that our programme remains accessible to all in our communities, and we are pleased that another central location has been found for the Taunton area.

"Our thanks go to Somerset West and Taunton Council for the invaluable support they have shown both at Firepool and now at Taunton Bus Station."

Cllr Marcus Kravis, SWT executive member for assets, said: “SWT are delighted to continue working in partnership with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to contribute to the ongoing roll out of vaccines.

“The lease of our Firepool site to the NHS had a fixed end date of March 31 to ensure that vital infrastructure works could commence this year subject to planning permission being granted.

“We are pleased to be able to accommodate the vaccination centre on our premises at the former bus station site in the town centre and hope that people will find this a convenient location to visit and keep their vaccinations up to date.”