Stamford Bridge opened its doors to the local community over the weekend as a pop-up vaccination centre in the fight against COVID-19.
On Saturday, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visited Chelsea's stadium, where over 5,000 vaccinations and booster jabs were administered at 55 vaccination stations.
"What we're seeing is thousands of Londoners receiving life-saving vaccines and boosters because Chelsea have opened their doors again," Khan told the club's official website.
"I've just met a 12-year-old Chelsea fan coming here to receive his first dose, his mum receiving her booster. On behalf of London, as the mayor of this great city, I want to say thank you to Chelsea."
A busy day at the Bridge as our stadium transformed into a pop-up vaccination centre. 👇
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 18, 2021
Pippa Nightingale, Chief Nursing Officer for Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, also paid tribute to the continued support offered by Chelsea throughout the pandemic. This has included providing hotel rooms at the stadium to NHS staff.
"Chelsea are such good friends to us, such good supporters of the vaccine programme and the hospital at Chelsea and Westminster," said Nightingale. "You need big spaces at venues like this and areas where people can queue safely so we’re so grateful for the club’s support once again."
Community support
Our clubs have stepped up throughout the pandemic to help the fight against coronavirus in their local communities.
Leeds United's Elland Road stadium is also being used by the local NHS Trust to offer those in the community vaccinations.
Earlier in the year, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford and West Ham United all provided facilities as vaccination centres or staff to aid their local NHS Trusts.
While Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United gave their stadiums to be used as vaccinations training centres.
