Adults across Shropshire urged to 'grab a jab' this weekend

Vaccination sites are opening their doors to all adults this weekend as part of the national ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign.

NHS Covid-19 vaccination sites will be operating across the region with anyone aged 18 or over able to turn up without needing to book an appointment in advance.

Sites offering walk in vaccinations can be found on the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care System website.

The campaign coincides with a major drive by the NHS in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to encourage young people to get vaccinated. The initiative features young people across the region sharing their experiences and views of the vaccination.

Among those backing the campaign is Georgina Rees, 22 from Shrewsbury. She recently started volunteering at the Shrewsbury Vaccination Centre as she wanted to do her bit to help the NHS. Her support was spurred on by seeing the toll the pandemic was having on her parents, who are both doctors.

Georgina said: “Deciding to get the vaccine isn’t just about you. It’s about thinking of everyone. It’s about my parents and others in the NHS and thinking about everything they’ve had to go through, and it’s about looking after more vulnerable people in our communities.

“Like everyone I’ve been impacted by the restrictions. I had to do my final year of university studies online, which was lonely at times as I was often living on my own. I feel like I’ve lost connections with a lot of my friends and have had so many experiences taken away from me. I definitely felt cut off at times and it had a real impact on my mental health. Most of all I’ve really missed being able to see my 94-year-old grandpa. I know however that I haven’t been affected as much as many others have, who have lost their jobs or even family members, and it's for those people especially that we need to get the vaccine.

“The vaccine is the safest way for us to get our lives back and be with the ones we love. We have to do this, not just for ourselves, but to save the NHS and others around us.”

The ‘Grab a Jab’ weekend has been organised to make the Covid-19 vaccine accessible to everyone and enable more people to get their first dose without the need for an appointment.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council's director of Public Health, said: “We're urging all those eligible to grab a jab this weekend in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. We have walk-in clinics open at Telford International Centre, Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre, the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Turreff Hall, Donnington (Telford), and more. You can simply walk in and get your vaccine without the need to book an appointment in advance.

“Make sure you check the vaccination walk-in clinic times online and check which type of vaccine each clinic offers before you go along. For example, some clinics will be offering the Pfizer jab – which is available for those aged 18 and over – whilst other clinics will be offering the AstraZeneca jab, which is available for those aged 40 or over.

"You don’t need to have an NHS number or be registered with a GP to get your vaccine – you can still visit one of our walk-in clinics across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and grab a jab."

Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin's director for Public Health, said: “We’ve seen good uptake of the vaccine among local young people, but we’re really want everyone to take up the opportunity to get a jab – we know that it is our best protection against Covid-19 and the safest route out of restrictions.

“We’re all desperate to get back to some sense of normality and the vaccine is our way to do this. That’s why we’re calling on all adults to play their part in the fight against coronavirus by popping into one of our vaccination clinics to get the jab done.”

People who attend a walk-in clinic for their first dose will have their vaccination record updated online and will then be able to book in their second dose appointment using the national booking system.

A full list of walk-in sites available can be found at stwics.org.uk/our-priorities/covid-19-vaccination-programme/walk-in-clinic-times