Vaccines hit the road
Friday 14 May 2021
Northumberland’s Roving Vaccination Unit will be on the road over the coming weeks to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to residents in west Northumberland.
Introducing a Roving Vaccination Service which will see vaccines safely transported to people in the most rural parts of the county as well as minority groups including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, those affected by homelessness and residents from a BAME background.
People living in Ponteland, Prudhoe, Haltwhistle, Bellingham and surrounding areas, between the ages of 40-50 years, are being invited to one of the remote vaccination clinics running over coming weeks. Eligible people should call 01670 337737 between 8.15am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 8.15am -12.00noon on Saturday and Sunday to book their slot.
The vaccination unit is by appointment only and will be at the following locations between 10am and 5pm on the following dates:
- 17 May, Ponteland Fire Station
- 24 May, Prudhoe Fire Station
- 27 May, Haltwhistle Fire Station
- 7 June, Bellingham Fire Station
Following the success of the pilot clinic at Bellingham on 14 April, NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group and the Cramlington Seaton Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) have teamed up with Northumberland Fire and Rescue to set up pop up clinics at other fire stations throughout the county; making the COVID-19 vaccines even more accessible.
Richard Hay, head of planning and operations for the CCG said, “It’s fantastic to see our Roving Vaccination Unit in action. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to make this work. This service is going to be hugely beneficial for those people in the most hard to reach and rural parts of Northumberland. I would encourage everybody who is currently eligible to receive their vaccine to come forward and book an appointment in order that we can continue our fight to beat COVID-19 and get back to doing all of the things that we know and love.
“We know how unique our geography is in this part of the region and have been working to set up a service which meets the needs of our residents and offers the opportunity of a vaccination as convenient and close to home as possible. I’m really excited to see the service in action and for our patients to realise the benefits of integrated and agile delivery of healthcare.”