The Covid-19 Vaccination Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground will be operating for the final time today with the centre moving to St John’s Wood United Synagogue, as the Ground prepares for the return of spectators to attend cricket matches this summer.

MCC collaborated with local Primary Care Networks and Healthcare Central London to convert a space at the famous cricket ground, creating the biggest vaccine centre in the borough at the time. The healthcare campaign “Aiming to knock Covid for 6” was created to encourage vaccinations and to give a special welcome to those coming to the Ground.

The cricket-themed campaign has continued throughout the centre operating from the Ground, with a vaccination “scoreboard”, displaying the total number of inoculations administered, which at close of play of the centre, shows 45,000 vaccinations.

As a gesture of appreciation for the on-going support of the vaccination programme, Acting Ground Superintendent, Jon Williams and Rabbi Mendel Cohen of St John’s Wood United Synagogue ‘handed over the bat’ to each other and an inscribed Menora was presented to MCC.

In addition, MCC presented Dr Saul Kaufman with a certificate of a plaque that will sit on the Lord’s Father Time Wall, dedicated to all the volunteers who have worked at the centre. 

"Our staff who have been involved in the operation of the centre have found it a privilege to be a part of"

Jon Williams said: “It has been heart-warming to be able to provide our resources in a positive way during such a challenging time. Our staff who have been involved in the operation of the centre have found it a privilege to be a part of.

"While we prepare for a busy summer of cricket and welcome spectators back to the Ground, it’s pleasing to know that the centre is moving just down the road to St John’s Wood United Synagogue, and will continue to look after our local community.”

Rabbi Mendel Cohen said: “We are thankful to Lord’s Cricket Ground for hosting the NHS and vaccinating so many, including myself and many members of our community. We are also thankful to our community members who volunteered on site.

We are happy to continue the innings and offer our Synagogue, home of the Lord, to the NHS.”