the home of science, arts and inspiration

COVID-19  - testing, vaccinations and research in South Kensington

COVID-19 Vaccinations

In early March, the Science Museum reopened its doors as an NHS vaccination centre, enabling thousands of Londoners to receive their COVID-19 vaccination in the historic surroundings of the museum. The NHS vaccination centre opens a year after the Science Museum first closed due to COVID-19 and as preparations are underway for a new coronavirus-focused exhibit which will go on display once the museum reopens. When the doors re-open, visitors will be able to see the vial from the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in the UK as reminder of the huge national effort to save lives and protect the NHS.

COVID-19 Testing

Over the road at the Ismaili Centre, their doors are open for community testing for certain groups of people without Coronavirus symptoms. Groups include those who cannot work from home or are the parent or guardian of a child at school or college, or in a childcare bubble with a family of a child going to school or college.

Testing is to prevent asymptomatic people spreading the virus without realising and these groups are encouraged to get tested twice a week. You can drop in on Monday and Wednesday 8am to 4:30pm or Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm. For more information, click here.

COVID -19 Research

Meanwhile, further up the road in the heart of London’s home of science and arts, Imperial College London has been working with governments and public health agencies around the world to help plan responses to the pandemic.You can read an overview of the team's work on characterising the threat with specific focus on outbreak size, severity, intervention policy and genetics. In addition, it describes work assessing it's impact including interventions, health impacts, transmission patterns and indirect impacts.

You can visit their website here to find out more about their latest COVID research, planning tools, resources and reports. To find out the latest news from Imperial College London, click here.

Sir Ian Blatchford, Pippa Nightingale and Secretary of State for DCMS Oliver Dowden at the vaccination centre.
© Science Museum Group
Rapid Community Testing at the Ismaili Centre