Newbury College COVID Clinic Increases Vaccination Reach

@NewburyCollege and Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) hosted a successful mobile vaccination clinic for local people who had not yet been able to access COVID vaccinations.

NHS Health on the Move vans are targeting local communities to ensure that everyone over 18 who wants a jab has one before 19 July. This date marks the easing of many legal restrictions on travel, events, and socialising, sparking an increased demand in young people wanting to access the vaccination programme.

Following the relaxation of legal regulations, indoor and crowded venues are being encouraged to use COVID status certification or “COVID Passports”, in which guests show that they have had either the vaccine, a negative rapid test or a past infection.

Jo Reeves, Newbury Locality Manager for Berkshire West CCG, 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.”

Newbury College students and staff supported the NHS team in promoting and managing online bookings before the event and supporting visitors on the day.

Protective Services student, Will Rogers, who has ambitions of joining 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 unit will return to the College in September to administer the second dose for those who attended the clinic.