Free bus travel to vaccination appointments

All bus operators in Blackburn with Darwen are offering free transport to anyone going to get their Covid vaccination.

The partnership between the Council and local bus travel companies hopes to encourage residents who haven’t yet had their vaccines to book appointments.

The free transport is available on all local bus services provided through these operators:

• Transdev
• Blackburn Private Hire
• Travel Assist
• Moving People.

Anyone going to a vaccination appointment can board any bus service provided by these operators.

Free travel is also available within the borough on these out-of-town services:

• Preston Bus and Pilkington’s services – 25, 25A and 45 (Ribble Valley)
• Stagecoach services – 59 (Preston) and 2A (Chorley)

To claim free travel, simply show your appointment confirmation to the driver, whether you’ve got an email, text or appointment letter.

If you are using a walk-in vaccination site and don’t have an appointment, simply tell the driver which walk-in site you’re going to.

Anyone living in outlying areas of the borough with limited bus services, including Belthorn and Edgworth, is asked to get in touch with the BwD Help Hub to arrange transport to a vaccination appointment.

The Help Hub can be contacted via www.blackburn.gov.uk/helphub or by calling 01254 588111.

Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Beating Coronavirus once and for all is a massive team effort, and it’s fantastic to know that we’ve got all our local transport operators on our team.

I’m very grateful to them for providing this free transport to Blackburn with Darwen residents. I know it will encourage some residents to take that first step to have the vaccine, and it will make a difference.

Transdev Commercial Director Paul Turner said:

It’s very important that everyone invited to receive a jab can do so without worrying about how to get to the vaccination centre. Our full network of services across Lancashire, including in Blackburn with Darwen, is ready to make travelling to a vaccination appointment straightforward and hassle free.

All anyone travelling to or from a Covid vaccination appointment on any of our services within Lancashire has to do is show our driver a text or email on their mobile phone, or a letter or other printed document, confirming their appointment for that day – then, simply take a seat, relax and leave the driving to us.

Jim Coulthard, Director of Travel Assist, commented:

Travel Assist believes that a good integrated transport system is central for the communities we serve. By all operators working together with the Council, we’re helping residents protect themselves, their family and other members of the community to which we all belong.

Blackburn with Darwen Council Chief Executive Denise Park added:

Through our engagement team out on the ground talking to residents and feedback from our Covid Community Champions, we are learning more about the barriers that prevent people from taking up vaccination. Not being able to travel to the various vaccination sites across the borough – for whatever reason – should not stop someone from having the Covid vaccination to protect themselves and others.

I’m delighted that all our local transport operators are working with us to provide this free transport. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect our communities against the virus and get back to some kind of normality.

The Covid vaccination is currently available to over 18s in Blackburn with Darwen at these sites:

• Blackburn Cathedral Crypt
• Saliheen Mosque, Didsbury Street, Blackburn
• Allied Pharmacy, Ivy Street Community Centre, Blackburn
• Everest Pharmacy, Cemetery Road, Darwen

Appointments are not needed at all these vaccination sites, but can be made online at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/getmyjab.

Walk-in clinics offering second dose Pfizer vaccines will also run from 12 to 25 July at:

• Penny Street car park, Blackburn
• Revidge Fold United Reformed Church, Shear Brow, Blackburn