Jab just the job as vaccination bus visits employers

The initiative is taking place in Telford, where the vaccination service bus has been visiting some of the borough's major employers.

It is a scheme that means people are able to get vaccinated without having to book an appointment or travel to a vaccine centre.

On Friday the bus was at Makita, in Hortonwood, where it was offering jabs to the firm’s staff – with 37 vaccinations given on the day.

Richard Annett, general manager of the firm's Telford operation, said they had been delighted to welcome the visit.

He said: "First and foremost for us we need to look after our employees and this is a great way of doing that.

"The health protection agency made us aware they were going to be out with the bus and so straight away we asked if they could come and visit us.

"We had 37 members of staff signed up on the day which is really good and we have asked for the bus to come back in the future."

The firm, which employs just under 800 people and expects to make around two million tools throughout the course of 2022.

Angie Wallace, senior responsible officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Shropshire, said it was good to see firms like Makita supporting the scheme.

She said: “The use of our local mobile vaccination buses ensures that access to the Covid-19 vaccine is easily available and accessible within our communities, taking the vaccine closer to them, particularly for those who may find it difficult to access a designated vaccination centre.

“It’s great that our large, local employers such as Makita in Telford are supportive of the vaccination programme – it means that staff who wish to, can get their vaccine at a time and place that’s convenient for them.

“Our vaccination buses, Betty, Bob and Basil, are proving to be extremely effective in ensuring more people – particularly in areas of lower uptake – are getting vaccinated in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.”

Across Telford and Wrekin the buses have also been used to visit areas where there have been low numbers of people getting vaccinated.

Speaking earlier this month, Telford & Wrekin Council leader Shaun Davies said: "We know not everyone can travel to one of the usual walk-in clinics.

"Bringing vaccinations to people's doorsteps or to their workplace makes it as easy as possible for people to get protected."