Social distancing floor sticker of the type used at the Science Museum NHS COVID-19 vaccination centre, 2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and staying physically apart was one preventative measure. In the United Kingdom, two metres between people from different households or support bubbles was the distance advised by the United Kingdom government to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In summer 2020, this was altered to one metre as long as additional measures were in place such as face coverings or screens. This was to help businesses and industries re-open and still maintain social distancing.

After weeks of careful planning and installation, the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Centre at the Science Museum first welcomed people to receive their COVID-19 vaccine on 11 March 2021. Run by NHS staff and volunteers, the clinic delivered over 122,000 doses to people over the course of a year. People had to pre-book their appointments when invited by the NHS. When the clinic first opened, the museum was closed to visitors but reopened on 19 May 2021 for five days a week.