Vaccine bus stops at colleges and community locations this week

Our COVID vaccination bus will be stopping at four locations this week to provide pop-up clinics, including at colleges and communities in low uptake areas of the town.

From tomorrow (Tuesday 21 September) the bus will be hitting the road for its busiest schedule yet, providing four consecutive walk-in clinics for anyone over the age of 16 to attend.

The vaccine bus will be stopping at the following locations from Tuesday:

• Darlington College on Tuesday (21 September) from 9am until 3pm
• Morrisons North Road on Wednesday (22 September) from 9am until 4pm
• Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on Thursday (23 September) from 9am until 4pm
• The Joseph Pease Circle on Friday (24 September) from 9am until 4pm

The vaccination team providing each of the clinics will be the same NHS staff and volunteers from the Darlington Arena Vaccination Centre.

All clinics will be walk-ups (no appointments necessary) and have Pfizer on offer for both first and second doses. The two community focused clinics (at Morrisons North Road and the Joseph Pease statue) will also be offering second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Anyone who is attending a clinic for their second dose must ensure it has been at least eight weeks since they had their first.

Penny Spring, our Director of Public Health, said: “It’s really rewarding to see that our COVID vaccination bus is so in demand as we move towards the winter months.

“The team has been asked back to two of Darlington’s colleges, which is fantastic news for staff and students who are looking for easily accessible vaccinations.

“We’re also continuing to provide new pop-up clinics for residents in wards with lower-than-average vaccination uptake, which includes the North Road area of Darlington.

“We urge anyone in Darlington who has yet to get their COVID vaccination to visit a walk-in clinic as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re 16 or 60 – the NHS team will be happy to answer any of your questions ahead of providing you your first or second dose of the vaccine.”

Walk-in Pfizer first and second dose vaccinations will also be available at Cockerton Pharmacy this Wednesday (22 September) and Friday (24 September) to anyone over the age of 16.

First and second dose appointments for over 16s and booster appointments for over 50s are also available to book in Darlington via the national online booking service or by phoning 119.