Yellow Sharps bin

Empty yellow sharps bin of the type used at the Science Museum NHS COVID-19 vaccination centre, 2021

Sharps containers are one way medical and healthcare staff can protect themselves after using needles to administer vaccinations, medications or for taking blood samples. Needle sticks are a source of pain and stress. A sharps injury carries with it the potential of acquiring up to 20 bloodborne infections so safely disposing of needles is important.

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.