Covid-19 Vaccination bus tackles unequal jab take-up in Middlesbrough

Hundreds turned up to receive a Covid-19 jab at a mobile vaccination bus in Centre Square.

The pop-up site will visiting different locations across Middlesbrough this week, as concerns over unequal take-up of vaccines prompted a fresh warning from public health chiefs.

The latest data shows that 5,000 people aged 50 or over in Middlesbrough have yet to have their first dose of the jab, while 16,000 in that age bracket have only had their first jab.

South Tees Joint Director of Public Health Mark Adams said: "We're particularly interested in those people over 50, as the Indian variant is more infectious. If you haven't been vaccinated then this variant is more likely to find you.

"We want to make sure we protect all communities in Middlesbrough as much as possible and avoid any further lockdowns or changes to the reopening of the economy."

Known as the Melissa bus, the mobile vaccine centre helps to target those areas where vaccine take-up may be lower, while clinicians on board are available to chat to people who may be hesitant to have a jab.

It's back in Centre Square on Thursday before heading to Abu Bakr Mosque on Cannon Park Way on Friday and the Acklam Green Centre in Whinney Banks on June 7 and 8.

Anyone aged 40 or over who lives or works in Middlesbrough can attend for their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, between 10am and 6pm.

The clinically vulnerable, or anyone who has had their first AstraZeneca jab more than eight weeks ago, can also go along.

The latest NHS data shows that Middlesbrough's infection rate is 24.1 per 100,000 of population.

Health bosses are calling for people to come forward for vaccination as soon as they are called and to follow the rules on social contact for as long as they are in place.

Mr Adams continued: "We are concerned about the potential for cases of the Indian variant to spread quickly.

"It's important that people who have only had one dose of the vaccine don't believe they are somehow bulletproof.

"The answer to almost all of the challenges facing us at present is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can."

On Tuesday, Andrea Ansell, 50, was among those who received their second dose of vaccine.

"It was very quick and easy process, I turned up and was here for about five minutes, got the jab and was all done," she said.

Steve Catchpole, 51, from Acklam, also came along for his second dose and said: "I work away so it can be difficult for me to get booked in, I spoke to my doctor and they recommended me coming down. It's been great - really professional, I'm glad to get it done."