A mobile COVID-19 vaccination community bus is now touring Essex to make it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccination without having to make an appointment.
Staff from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Vaccination Programme are working with Essex County Council to encourage more people within local communities to receive their COVID-19 vaccination.
The mobile Community Vaccination Bus, which has been funded by Essex County Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, will be visiting areas of Essex where the take-up of the vaccine has been lower.
Over the next week, the bus will be parked up at different campuses at South Essex College making it as accessible as possible for people to get both first and second doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations.
Nigel Leonard, Executive Director of Major Projects and Programmes, said: “This COVID-19 vaccination bus demonstrates the fantastic collaborative working with our fellow partners in the County. We’re proud to be working together to be able to vaccinate our communities.
“Staff from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust have so far helped to vaccinate almost 800,000 people since the programme began, and by supporting the mobile COVID-19 vaccination bus, we hope to reach even more and help protect as many people as possible in our County.”
Melissa Dowdeswell, Director of Nursing and Clinical Governance and Operational Director for MSE Covid vaccination sites, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer members of the community an easy way to get their vaccination across Essex.
“There are still large numbers of people unprotected against the virus across Essex so we’re reaching out to those who haven’t yet taken up the offer of an appointment.
“Everyone over the age of 16 is now able to come forward for their vaccination, and it’s the best way that you can protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness.”
A South Essex College spokesman said: “The college is pleased to support the vaccination drive by welcoming the NHS bus to our sites throughout this week.
“This will allow those who choose to have a vaccination to access the service at a time and place convenient to them.”
As of today (Monday 27th September), the Community Vaccination Bus will be visiting different campuses across the college until Friday 1 October and will be open from 10am to 3pm.
For a list of locations and dates please click here