Poster showing the protocol for removing the Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the fridge, version 1.4, issued 16.2.21, from the Science Museum NHS COVID-19 vaccination centre, 2021

As well as developing vaccines, manufacturers gave step by step guidance on how to remove vials from fridges and to prepare syringes. This included having a second person to check timings, as Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccines had to be used within 6 hours of being opened.

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.