Pop-up Covid vaccine bus is just the ticket
Booster jabs for those 40 and over
PEOPLE aged 40 and over are being encouraged to make use of a pop-up vaccine bus that will offer booster jabs without appointment in the Portsmouth area this weekend.
The bus will set up in Guildhall Walk tomorrow from 9am to 4pm for anyone in that age group who had their second vaccine at least six months ago.
It is hoped around 250 people will be vaccinated on the day and plans are in place for the bus to return to the city on Friday, December 10 and Friday, December 17.
Councillor Gerald VernonJackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Getting the vaccine, whether it’s your first, second or booster dose, is vital.
‘And anyone 40 and over who wants their booster, especially if they’ve found it difficult to arrange an appointment, will now have the opportunity to turn up on Friday and get theirs.
‘We are working very hard alongside our local NHS partners to ensure opportunities for everyone in the city to get their vaccinations and this offer will help broaden that.’
The bus will also visit Thorngate Hall car park, in Gosport, on Saturday and Bargate, in High Street, Southampton, on Sunday.
Director of public health in Portsmouth, Helen Atkinson, said: ‘We don’t know for sure how the Omicron variant will behave, so we must use all the tools we have to help reduce the spread and protect ourselves, especially as we know respiratory viruses spread more in winter when we spend more time indoors with others.
‘Alongside having a booster dose of the vaccine and wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport where it’s now mandatory, we can all keep doing the things that work to limit the spread of the virus.
‘Washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering whenever you’re in enclosed or busy places, limiting the number of people we meet, and getting tested remain the most effective things we can all do.’
It comes as government recently announced the booster jabs will be offered to
everyone aged 18 and over by the end of January.
If you can’t attend the booster bus sessions, or are not aged 40 and over, you are advised to wait to be contacted by the NHS for your booster jab.
Younger age groups will be invited by the NHS in due course in order of age, grouped into five-year age bands.