Pop-up community clinics offer even easier access to COVID-19 vaccinations
A raft of pop-up vaccination clinics are being held across Hampshire and Isle of Wight amid a fresh plea for everyone eligible to take up the offer of a COVID-19 jab.
Solent NHS Trust is running sessions at venues across the area, including community centres. The Trust is also working in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to offer clinics at fire stations, giving people an even wider range of opportunities to receive their first, second or booster vaccination.
Further clinics will be announced in the coming days and weeks. Clinics will offer Pfizer vaccines only and teams are providing:
- First and second (after 12 weeks of the first dose) vaccinations for young people aged 12-15, as well as 16 and 17-year-olds.
- First and second (after 8 weeks of the first dose) vaccinations for people aged 18 and over.
- Booster vaccinations to people over the age of 16 (3 months after second vaccination).
The events will take place on:
- Wednesday 12 January, 11am – 6pm at the University of Winchester
- Thursday 13 January, 1-8pm at Cosham Fire Station
- Friday 14 January, 1-8pm at St Mary’s Fire Station, Southampton
- Friday 14 January, 10am – 5pm at Freshwater Fire Station, IOW
- Saturday 15 January, 11am – 4pm at Paulsgrove Community Centre
- Sunday 16 January 11.00-6.00 at The Marlands shopping centre (Previous Peacocks store)
- Monday 17 January, 10am – 5pm at Sandown Fire Station, IOW
- Monday 17 January, 1-8pm at Fareham Fire Station
- Thursday 20 January, 11am – 6pm at Northam Community Centre
- Thursday 20 January, 10am – 5pm at Shanklin Fire Station, IOW
- Friday 21 January, 1-8pm at St Mary’s Fire Station, Southampton
- Saturday 22 January, 10am – 5pm at East Cowes Fire Station, IOW
- Monday 24 January, 1-8pm at Havant Fire station
- Thursday 27 January, 1-8pm at Cosham Fire station
- Friday 28 January, 10am – 5pm at Cowes Fire Station, IOW
- Tuesday 1 February, 1-8pm at Waterlooville Fire Station
- Thursday 3 February, 11am – 6pm at Northam Community Centre
- Thursday 3 February, 1-8pm at Fareham fire station
- Friday 4 February, 1-8pm at St Mary’s Fire Station, Southampton
Children aged 12-15 will need to attend a pop-up clinic or vaccination centre with their parent or guardian, who will be asked to give their consent. Children can get a first dose of the vaccine from the day they turn 12.
Any 12-15 year old who has tested positive for COVID-19 must wait 12 weeks before they can have a COVID-19 vaccine. This starts from the date of their positive PCR test.
Angela Anderson, Solent NHS Trust’s Clinical Director of COVID-19 vaccinations, said: “Our dedicated teams are working really hard to ensure we can offer the vaccine to as many people across our communities as possible.
“A big thank you to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue service for continuing to support the NHS vaccination programme. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming seriously ill. We continue to increase opportunities to get vaccinated so if you need your first, second or booster jab please come to one of our pop-up clinics or walk into one of our mass vaccination centres.”
Assistant Chief Officer Stew Adamson said: “As a fire and rescue service we have a responsibility to help protect lives and make our communities safer and the vaccination programme is one of the most important ways in which we can do that right now.
“Our fire stations play an important role in the lives of the communities we serve, so we are more than happy to be able to help Solent NHS Trust again by opening our doors to the public.
“The stations will remain fully operational throughout and this is a great opportunity for people who live nearby to take up the offer of a first, second or booster jab.”
In addition to the walk-in clinics at fire stations, more than 100 firefighters and support staff have volunteered to work as vaccinators or provide administrative support to the booster programme.
The three mass vaccination centres across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight continue to offer walk-in appointments for all doses between 8am and 8pm seven days a week at Oakley Road in Southampton, St James’ Hospital in Portsmouth and the Riverside Centre on the Isle of Wight. Please note that St James’ is not offering Pfizer clinics on Wednesdays between 8am – 1.30pm.
People are also able to book an appointment through the National Booking System. School-age immunisation Teams are also running further clinics for second doses only across Hampshire and Isle of Wight schools from 10 January.
For more information visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination