Appeal to young people in Surrey and Hampshire to get Covid vaccine
Health services says fewer in this age group are coming forward
Last updated 2nd Jul 2021
A direct appeal has gone out to young people in Surrey and Hampshire, who have not had their coronavirus vaccine.
Frimley CCG - which covers Farnham, Surrey Heath and North East Hampshire - is currently targeting 18-30 year olds as part of efforts to increase vaccine uptake within the age group.
Sarah Bellars is its Covid Vaccination Lead and tells Greatest Hits Radio that they have seen fewer numbers within this demographic coming forward, than in older age groups:
"We are struggling to fill our clinics in the way that we almost had waiting lists for clinics for the other age groups.
"It has been quite well documented that younger people are less affected by Covid and so potentially some of the concerns could be do they really need it"
"I think it is really important that we have the opportunity to talk to them so we can explain that it is really important that they get the vaccine so we can reduce transmission within the community."
She said they are targeting the group via social media - using platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
And she said anyone with concerns should contact their GP practice.
Ms Bellars also said they were looking at doing more pop-up clinics - and were trying first to establish where there was less uptake.
She said there were plenty of facilities in the area for such clinics, in good venues, such as Farnham Hospital, the Harlington Centre in Fleet and the Princes Hall in Aldershot, among others - which were near to where people live.
She said it is never too late to have the Covid vaccine - anyone of any age who has not yet had it, "there is a vaccine with your name on it".