Young people queued right the way across a Bristol park to get their coronavirus vaccines as a pop-up vaccination centre was set up.
The ‘community first dose walk-in’ centre accepted anyone over the age of 18 who lived locally in east or inner city Bristol, and people didn’t need an appointment to get their jab.
The pop-up vaccination centre was set up in Eastville Park today (June 19) and from the moment it opened at 11am, there were queues across the park with a steady stream of people coming to get their first shot.
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Late this week, the Government opened up the Covid jab to anyone over the age of 18, and people have been able to book online at centres like the mass vaccination venue at Ashton Gate.
But with a comparatively lower take up of the vaccine in areas like Easton, St Pauls, Eastville and Barton Hill, health chiefs decided to make it as easy as possible for people to get their jabs as soon as possible.
The Eastville Park clinic came a day after a similar facility was opened in Hartcliffe, as health chiefs target areas where accessibility to the vaccine centres might not be as easy, and where there has been a slightly lower take up of the jab.
There was a feeling of excitement in the queue, with many young people saying they tried to book for their jab but could only find open slots in Bath or even further away.
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“We’ve waited a long time for this,” said one young person in the queue. “It’s great to have a walk-in clinic like this.”
Local councillor Marley Bennett watched the set-up of the clinic, and thanked those involved.
“It's brilliant to see how many people are taking advantage of the pop-up vaccine clinic in Eastville Park today,” he said.“Getting vaccinated is the best single thing we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from Covid. A huge thank you to everyone who made today possible,” he added.
The Eastville Park clinic is being run by the Bristol CCG, and is offering the Pfizer vaccine, which is the jab being given to anyone under 30.
