People urged to make the matchday their jab day at pop-up vaccine clinic
Middlesbrough tickets will be on offer in Centre Square on Wednesday
A pop-up vaccine clinic returns to Middlesbrough town centre on Wednesday (August 18) with everyone turning up for a jab in with a chance of winning Boro tickets.
As part of efforts to increase vaccine uptake in the town, first and second doses of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs will be on offer in Centre Square.
A roving unit will be outside the Central Library from 10am until 7pm - making it handy for football fans who are in the town centre before Boro's game with QPR.
All over-16s are welcome with no appointments needed. Everyone jabbed will be entered into a raffle to win pairs of tickets for a future Boro home game.
The clinic is being arranged by Middlesbrough Council and the NHS Tees Valley and Northumberland clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
About one in four eligible people in Middlesbrough haven't had any dose as yet.
Esther Mireku, consultant in public health at Public Health South Tees, said:
"The vaccine programme has been an NHS success story. The pace and organisation has been brilliant.
"Our focus now is on encouraging adults who haven't come forward to get both their doses as soon as possible.
"Wednesday's event is another opportunity for people to call in at their convenience and Boro fans can make matchday their jab day.
"The football club's support throughout Covid has been invaluable and I thank them again for their assistance."
A roving vaccine bus from the Northumberland CCG will be in Centre Square from 10am-7pm on Wednesday August 18. People coming for a second jab must have had their first at least eight weeks earlier.
Dr Janet Walker, medical director, NHS Tees Valley CCG, added:
"This is a great opportunity for people to kick off the football season safely by getting their jab on the way to the match.
"We're hoping that Boro's back line will be good this year, but there is no better defence than the vaccine.
"Therefore, it is vitally important that everyone over 16 has a first jab and everyone eligible for a second jab comes forward for their second dose after eight weeks to ensure that they are fully protected against the virus and any mutations that may occur as we move closer to the winter months."
Vaccinations are easily accessible at walk-in clinics across Middlesbrough, find your nearest one here: https://teesvalleyccg.nhs.uk/where-and-when-you-can-you-get-a-walk-in-covid-19-jab-in-tees-valley-2/