Newbury College supports coronavirus NHS coronavirus vaccination van
NEWBURY College partnered with Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide a mobile vaccination clinic for people who haven’t yet received Covid vaccinations, writes Anna Couzens.
College students and staff supported the NHS team in promoting and managing online bookings for the event and supporting visitors when they arrived on Thursday.
The NHS Health on the Move vans have been visiting local communities to ensure that all over 18s who wish to be vaccinated were offered a jab before Monday this week, the date which marks the relaxation of many existing legal restrictions.
The demand for vaccinations among younger people has increased in recent weeks, as people anticipate needing a 'Covid passport' in order to access many indoor and crowded venues in the future. The 'Covid passport' shows proof of double vaccinations, a past infection that is still providing natural immunity or a negative lateral flow test result 48 hours prior to the event.
Berkshire West CCG Newbury locality manager Jo Reeves said: “I’m extremely grateful to Newbury College for hosting the Health on the Move van and getting over 60 people their jabs.
“The staff and student volunteers were so helpful and ensured things went smoothly even when the rain threatened to come down on our outdoor set-up.
“The college are at the heart of the local community, so it was great to be able to bring the vaccination to people who might otherwise have found it difficult to get their vaccine.”
Protective services student Will Rogers, who hopes to join the Military Police next summer, said: “I was really happy to volunteer and support this event.
"I think it’s important that we all do what we can to help our community and it has given me valuable experience for the type of work I want to do in the future.”
The mobile clinic will be back at the college in September to administer second doses for those who attended.
For more information on the vaccination programme, visit www.berkshirewestccg.nhs.uk and to find out more about training for a career in health or public services, visit www.newbury-college.ac.uk