NHS vaccine bus returns for second doses!

From Wednesday July 21, the NHS Covid-19 vaccination bus will be revisiting various locations across Blackburn with Darwen providing second dose Pfizer vaccines.

Mosques, colleges, leisure centres and community hubs are just some of the hyperlocal venues where the vehicle will be available for convenient and easy access to the vaccination.

The mobile bus originally visited the area in May and is now returning to the same locations to enable people to receive their second dose – second doses are available as long as it has been eight weeks, or 56 days, after their first dose.

No appointments are needed, just walk in – but the bus will close once all the vaccines have been used.

The bus timetable is:

Wednesday 21 July – Blackburn College Car Park, Fielden Street, Blackburn, BB2 1LH – 9am -12.30

Thursday 22 July – Audley Leisure Centre Car Park, Chester Street, Blackburn, BB1 1DW – 10am – 5.30pm

Friday 23 July – Mill Hill Council Car Park land, Angela St, Mill Hill, Blackburn, BB2 4DP – 9am -12.30

Friday 23 July – Roman Road Health Centre Fishmoor Drive Off Roman Road, Blackburn, BB2 3UY – 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Saturday 24 July – Charlotte Street Car Park, Blackburn, BB1 6LE – 12 noon – 7.30pm

Sunday 25 July – Shadsworth Community Hub car park, Rothesay Road, Shadsworth, Blackburn, BB1 2JB – 10am – 1pm

Tuesday 27 July – Masjid E Sajedeen Mosque car park, Plane Tree Road, Little Harwood, Blackburn, BB1 6LS – 10am – 5.30pm (deferred from 19^th July due to Eid)

First doses will also be available for anyone who missed the bus the first time around. Everyone over the age of 18 is now able to come forward for a vaccination.

The vaccination bus is in addition to the sites in Blackburn Cathedral, Revidge Fold United Reformed Church in Shear Brow, Pharmacy 2U in Ainsworth Street, Didsbury Street Mosque, Blackburn and Everest Pharmacy in Darwen which are all delivering first and second dose Pfizer and AZ vaccines.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Covid-19 Vaccine Director Jane Scattergood said:

Vaccination is extremely important in our fight against COVID-19. For various reasons some people do find it difficult to take up the offer of the vaccine, but we want to do everything we can to make it easier for people to get their vaccine when they can.

Our aim is to continue adapting the vaccination service to the communities we serve and protecting as many people as possible. Not only do vaccinations help reduce harm and loss of life but are crucial in us all getting back to some sort of normality.

It’s just as important to get vaccinated now as it was on day one of the programme, and it has never been easier to walk in and get your jab while you are out and about. We are nearing the finish line of our world-leading vaccination programme, uptake has been fantastic locally and it has been a privilege to help keep people safe and to see the smiles on people’s faces once they’ve had their vaccine. With everyone over 18 now eligible and plenty of walk-in sites open, if you haven’t booked your first dose yet then today should be the day you make that happen and play your part in keeping us all safe.

Professor Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, added:

During what’s being called the ‘exit wave’, our number one priority is getting as many people in Blackburn with Darwen as possible vaccinated.

Having one dose will give you some protection against Covid, but having both doses will guarantee a higher rate of protection. The Pfizer vaccine has been proven to be 96% effective against hospitalisation after two doses, and the Astra Zeneca vaccine 92%.

This means that although you could still catch Covid and have mild to moderate symptoms, there is far less chance of you becoming seriously ill, needing hospital treatment and losing your life to this horrible disease.

I’ve had both of my jabs. Why wouldn’t I? Half a jab is half a job!

For further information, log onto www.healthierlsc.co.uk/covidvaccination