By
Hedi Mehrez @Adver_HediMReporter
All you need to know about the vaccination bus in Swindon
The vaccination bus has been spotted across Swindon, touring areas where uptake of the
coronavirus vaccine has been low.
The single-decker coach is being used by the region’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group in targeting areas where it is known there are high levels of vaccine hesitancy.
Swindon Borough Council said it will not be publishing details of when and where the vaccination bus will be located online.
Details on the whereabouts of the bus will be advertised to specific communities through ongoing outreach work.
An SBC spokesperson said: “The vaccination bus is there to provide the coronavirus vaccine to people who are eligible for a vaccine but who are unable to travel to a vaccination centre, or who have been hesitant to a previous offer of vaccination and would like to chat to a medical professional first.
“The vaccine bus is not intended for people who are able to travel, or who have yet to be invited for a vaccination.”
READ MORE: Converted bus to visit Swindon in bid to encourage people to have Covid-19 vaccine
Converted bus to visit Swindon in bid to encourage people to have Covid-19 vaccine
By
Hedi Mehrez @Adver_HediMReporter
The bus is starting its tour in Swindon this week
4 comments
A CONVERTED bus will roll into town to encourage people to have the Covid-19 vaccine.
The single-decker coach was unveiled this morning and is the latest tool being used by the region's NHS Clinical Commissioning Group in targeting areas where the jab take-up is low.
It will begin its tour in
Swindon before visiting parts of Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset. Communities where there are high levels of vaccine hesitancy will be the first stops on the route.
The bus has been refitted to enable teams to provide the Covid-19 jab in a clean and secure environment.
The mobile clinic will also double up as a safe conversation space in which people with questions or queries can talk about their concerns with experienced healthcare professionals before deciding whether to have the vaccine.
Swindon Borough Council's director of public health Steve Maddern said: “The new mobile vaccination clinic will be an invaluable tool that will allow us to target areas with lower vaccination uptake.
“It is never too late to change your mind if you have previously said no to vaccination, and this new mobile clinic will be a huge boost in our efforts to protect those communities who, up until now, have been hesitant of the vaccine.
“It allows people to come along and have a conversation with health professionals if they are unsure about whether they want to have the vaccine and if you’re in the priority groups of 45 and over – or one of the other priority groups – then you will be able to be vaccinated on the bus.
“My understanding is that the NHS has done a soft launch this week to just make sure processes are working well and then across the next few months that bus will then travel across Swindon, B&NES and Wiltshire to those areas where uptake has been lower.”
Details of when and where the mobile vaccination clinic will be visiting will be advertised to specific communities through ongoing outreach work happening with community leaders, faith groups and public health workers.
www.firstbus.co.uk
