Preston is set to get a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre within weeks.

The news was revealed at a meeting of Lancashire County Council’s internal scrutiny committee, as reported by LancsLive.

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While the location of the facility has yet to be confirmed, empty large-scale sites in the city include the Guild Hall, Evoque and Toys R Us.

Other sites potentially large enough to host a vaccination centre include Deepdale and 53 Degrees at UCLan.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council, has welcomed the step.

He said: “Vaccination plays a key role in the battle against the pandemic and I cannot urge residents strongly enough to take the opportunity to be vaccinated when it is made available to them.

“Having central, accessible sites is key to enabling the vaccination programme to effectively be delivered at speed, and I look forward to the opening of a mass vaccination centre in Preston as part of the NHS’ plan for the city.

“We have been engaged in discussions and in support of this progress with our partners for some time and believe it is an essential next step for protecting our residents.”

The news follows the announcement of the Harris as a rapid test site for city centre businesses and their employees.

Read more: Harris Museum and Art Gallery to be used as rapid Covid test centre for Preston city centre workers

Speaking about the site, which was set up with help from the armed forces, Councillor Brown said: “Not only will this protect workers, it will also give members of the public confidence that places of business are safe if they need to visit them.

“It is vital businesses take up this opportunity and help stop the spread of the virus to bring down infection rates and keep us safe.”

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

What do you think of Preston getting a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre? Where do you think it will be located? Let us know in the comments.