How the jab roll-out is attracting first-timers

FIRST-TIME Covid jab patients are conquering their fears and are stepping forward as new ways of administering the vaccine are made available, health bosses say.

Those who are unvaccinated, for reasons such as a fear of needles, anxiety about the vaccine or mobility issues, are now able to get their jabs in a myriad of ways.

Vaccination clinics have been set up across community venues throughout the roll-out, including one in a mobile unit.

More recently, the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups set up a Covid-19 vaccine centre outside County Hall, in Glenfield.

One patient, said to suffer from “extreme anxiety”, had been to five different clinics before they felt able to get their first vaccine at the drivethrough centre.

Another patient who was too frail to attend other sites was taken to the County Hall clinic by her husband and was jabbed in the comfort of her car.

The approach has also proven popular with younger patients, the CCG says.

Dr Caroline Trevithick, executive director of nursing, quality and performance, said: “It is fantastic to see people having this life-saving vaccine who had previously struggled. We hope that by sharing these examples, more people will feel encouraged to get the jab.”

Clinic in community venues were set up early on in the vaccination roll-out, with the first in Leicester held at a mosque in St Matthews.

The clinic was run in part by the community and was delivered by Somali healthcare workers. More than 500 jabs were administered in its first day.

At one clinic outside the Maxi Grosik European supermarket, in Leicester, a healthcare worker said she was prompted to finally get her first jab thanks for the convenience of the location.

The drive-through clinic in the car park to the rear of County Hall is open every Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Vaccines are available to people aged 12 years and over and this includes first, second, third and booster doses.