By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A mobile vaccination van is being used to increase flu and Covid jab uptake in “hard-to-reach” communities across Nottinghamshire.
According to the latest figures 46 per cent of those eligible have had the winter flu vaccine, while 42.2 per cent of eligible people have had their Covid vaccine.
The roll-out of both vaccines began on October 3.
Vaccines are predominantly being administered via community pharmacies and GP practices, and the ‘School-Age Immunisation Service’ is visiting all schools across the county for flu vaccinations.
During a Nottinghamshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday (November 20), NHS leaders said there had been lower uptake amongst people with clinical vulnerabilities.
It followed a question from Cllr Steve Carr (Ind), who represents Bramcote and Beeston North and said: “What can we do further to actually improve [vaccination rates]?”
In response, Hazel Buchanan, associate director of strategic programmes at NHS Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said a new mobile van service has now been introduced.
The roving service will target areas of low uptake as well as focus on people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and who are frail.
“We are trying everything to increase uptake,” she said.
“You’ve got vaccine hesitancy that you can see across different communities, and so it is very much about how we reach into those communities.
“What we are looking at is how we work with local resources, our community champions, to really highlight the benefits of vaccination.”
The vaccination drive comes as wider NHS services prepare for the winter months.
Gemma Whysall, of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (IBC), added: “One of the things we’ve had to do already is we’ve recruited temporary staffing into the acute trusts, and already utilised some of that to cope with some of the peaks and flexibility of demand to manage emergency care.”
A full list of available pop-up and permanent vaccine clinics is below:
Asda Hyson Green, Radford Road, Hyson Green, NG7 5FP
November 23, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
December 21, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Bulwell Market, Market place, Bulwell, NG6 8HD
November 30, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Clifton Market, Southchurch Drive, Clifton, NG11 9LQ
December 7, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
December 14, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Co-op, Mansfield Road, Skegby, Sutton in Ashfield, NG17 3DU
December 5, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Co-op, Southwell Road, Mansfield, NG18 4EH
November 26, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG19 0BS
November 21, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
November 25, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
December 6, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
December 10, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
December 19, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
New Street Car Park, Arlington Way, Retford, DN22 6EA
November 22, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Newark Hospital, Boundary Road, Newark, NG24 4DE
December 9, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
Tesco, Chesterfield road, Mansfield, NG19 7TS
December 20, 2024 (10am – 4pm)
