The pop-up centre, located at the University’s LRV on the Stoke-on-Trent campus, hosted medical professionals from local Harley Street Medical Centre who administered the vaccine.
The Harley Street team vaccinated around 100 people an hour and in just seven hours, more than 700 students and staff received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Harley Street Medical centre is working as part of Hanley, Bucknall and Bentilee Primary Care Network (PCN) to run local vaccine clinics managed by Clinical Director Dr Stephanie Summers.
Yvonne Bell, Practice Manager at Harley Street Medical Centre, said: "I have worked with our local CCG to secure the vaccines for the University’s students and staff. Anyone who gets COVID-19 can become seriously ill or have long-term effects and the COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others.
"We're really pleased to have been able to help more students and staff at Staffordshire University get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities. It’s important that everyone attends for their second vaccines to complete their immunisation against COVID-19.”
The University has been offering on-site lateral flow testing since Autumn, and is currently providing free home testing kits through the Universities Home Testing Programme.
The vaccination pop-up is the latest step taken by Staffordshire University to support the national COVID-19 effort and protect its community.
Paula Dalziel, Head of Student Support, Wellbeing and Inclusion at Staffordshire University, said: “We had a brilliant response to the announcement that we would be offering vaccinations at the University. The appointments filled up as soon as they were released, and we decided to extend our opening hours to accommodate an additional 100 people that were initially on the waiting list.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have focussed on keeping our students and staff safe and through our latest partnership with Harley Street Medical Centre, we are delighted to offer the vaccine to a significant number of people that haven’t yet had the opportunity to receive it elsewhere.
“We hope that, given the response to our first pop-up centre, there may be opportunities to run more vaccination days at the University in the near future.”
Rhys Reynolds, 21, an undergraduate studying Concept Art for Games and Film, said: “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to get the vaccine before I go home for the summer holidays, particularly as I am under 25 years old and otherwise don’t know when I would receive it.
“I think it’s important for students to get vaccinated and play their part. Myself and all my friends immediately booked in to be vaccinated at the University’s pop-up centre.”
Masters student Chris Steers, 24, said: “I really couldn’t wait and booked on as soon as I got the email. Young people get a lot of stick about not doing the right thing for the good of the country but give them a chance and they’ll take it. I think it’s worthwhile getting it done and just getting the first dose is a big step.”
The LRV on Leek Road is also home to the University’s ‘Swabbing Centre’ run in conjunction with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The swabbing centre offers lateral flow rapid testing for anyone who does not have COVID-19 symptoms. Staff, students and members of the public are able to book a lateral flow test at LRV by visiting https://www.stoke.gov.uk/bookacovid19test