Flu vaccination clinics are being held in pop-up gazebos in car parks across North Somerset and Bristol - in a bid to maintain social distancing.
Mendip Vale Medical Practice held the first of its flu clinics on Saturday with a total of 2,254 booking in to have their vaccination.
The clinic saw a series of gazebos put up in the car park of the practice’s Langford surgery where people received their jabs.
In the past, and before the coronavirus pandemic, normal flu clinics were held inside, with each session attracting between 1000 and 1200 patients.
Due to the pandemic – and the fact that this year more people are eligible for a vaccination – numbers booking in for the jab have doubled.
The hours of the flu clinics have also been expanded from 8am to 3pm rather than 8am to noon to keep up with the demand.
A staggered attendance at the clinics has also been put in place to avoid crowding with the first hour of operation, between 8am and 9am, dedicated to the highest risk or shielding patients.
The practice cares for 53,000 patients across the area and further vaccination clinics are planned at other surgery sites – using car parks and outside space - in the coming weeks.
The practice is amongst the first in the area to hold flu vaccination clinics.
All the clinics will be held outside – to help adhere to social distancing guidelines –weather permitting.
Letters have been sent to all patients who qualify for a jab, inviting them along to a session.
Mendip Vale Medical Practice partner David Clark said: “We were first off the mark when it came to organising our flu vaccination sessions.
“The clinical team has worked hard to put together a viable and safe solution for the 2020 flu season.
“Covid has had a significant impact on how we can deliver services.Initially we will be offering five clinics outside, weather permitting.”
A flu clinic for patients of the Sunnyside Surgery in Clevedon is being held on September 19 from 8am to 2pm at the car park at Castlewood in Clevedon.
For patients at St Georges Surgery in Weston-super-Mare there will be a clinic on September 26 from 8am to 3pm.
For patients at the Congresbury and Yatton surgeries a clinic will beheld at the Langford Surgery on October 3 from 8am to 3pm while for patients a tthe Monks Park Practice in Bristol there will be a session at the surgery from 8am to 3pm on October 10.
