Ding ding, the next stop for the vaccine bus is Bilston

The Covid-19 vaccine bus will be rolling into Bilston later this week, with jabs available for anyone who is eligible without the need to book.

It follows a successful pilot of the mobile vaccine service last week in Phoenix Park, Blakenhall, which saw over 1,000 people receive doses of the life-saving vaccine in a partnership between the City of Wolverhampton Council and Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group.

The bus will be outside Mecca Bingo on Springvale Retail Park in Bilston on Friday (18 June) from 3pm to 8pm and Saturday (19 June) from 10am until 6pm.

To make sure as many people as possible can get their vaccine, the bus will be offering Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to anyone who is eligible. First and second doses will be available, although injections must be at least eight weeks apart.

Anyone over the age of 21, or who will turn 21 by 1 July, can get their vaccination at the bus without needing to book. Vaccines will also be offered to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in a household with other adults over the age of 21.

To support the bus, Wolverhampton Community Champions will be dropping off leaflets at homes in the area to let residents know the bus is coming and invite them to get their jabs.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Piloting the vaccine bus in Blakenhall last week showed how effective this partnership approach is.

“By taking the vaccine out to where they are need most, supported by a team of volunteers and community champions, more than 1,000 people had easy access to their life-saving vaccine.

“Infection rates in Wolverhampton are lower than the national average at the moment, but they have risen steadily in recent weeks with over 100 people testing positive for Covid-19 in the city last week. And, as we have seen elsewhere in the country, the situation can rapidly change.

“Data from Public Health England has shown that two doses of the vaccine are highly effective against hospitalisation from the more transmissible Delta variant, so now is the time to get as many people vaccinated as possible, before rates rise further.

“It is important that people have their second dose as soon as possible too, as that will give them the best level of protection against this deadly virus. That’s why the vaccine bus is also offering second doses as well, although these must be at least eight weeks after the first dose.”

Dr Kam Ahmed, Wolverhampton GP and Covid Vaccination Programme Lead said, “The bus is travelling across the city to increase uptake in particular areas such as Blakenhall last week and now Bilston.

“I encourage you to take up the offer of your first dose, or your second dose if your first one was over eight weeks ago.

Please come along to the bus whilst its in your local area.”