A mobile vaccination unit at work in Hastings in April.

Pop-up vax clinics in Hastings

New opportunities for getting vaccinated in Hastings are becoming available with a programme of pop-up clinics arranged by Sussex Health and Care Partnership through May. Nick Terdre reports.

The COVID vaccine is being offered closer to home for people across Hastings with a range of pop-up clinics at central locations starting this weekend and carrying on throughout May, says the Sussex Health and Care Partnership.

Appointments can be booked in advance but the clinics will also receive walk-in patients. However, these sessions are only for people seeking their first dose, the SHCP points out – those who have already had a jab should wait to receive an invitation to their second.

Groups who are now eligible for vaccination include those over the age of 40 (or turning 40 by 1 July), those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or have a serious long-term health issue, health and social care workers, those with a learning disability and unpaid carers (full list here).

The first clinics are taking place on:

• Saturday 15 May, 10am-2pm, at Warrior Square Surgery, Marlborough House, Warrior Square, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6BG.
  10am-11am booked appointments, 11am-2pm walk-in.

• Monday 17 May 12pm-4pm: Mobile vaccination service, outside the Four Courts Community Centre, Sydney Close, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 9DD.
  12pm-1pm booked appointments, 1pm-4pm walk-in.

Further sessions will be held on Wednesday 19 May, Saturday 22nd, Wednesday 26th, Friday 28th and Saturday 29th – full details are available here.  The other locations at which the sessions will be held are Concordia Hall in Church Road, St Leonards, and the Station Plaza Health Centre.

Appointments can be booked by calling 01424 236260. Those attending are asked to bring one form of ID (photo ID not required) and NHS number if known. A face covering should be worn.

One reason why extra facilities are being laid on in Hastings may be because the existing capacity – the main vaccination facility at Hastings Centre on The Ridge and Laycocks pharmacy in Ore – is insufficient. HOT has heard of locals being offered jabs not only in Bexhill and Eastbourne but also such far-flung places as Folkestone and Battersea Arts Centre. However, the health authorities have declined to explain why this is happening.

The government reports up that to 9 May 35.5m people had received a vaccination, of whom 17.9m had also had a second dose. The target is to vaccinate all adults, some 55m people, by the end of July.

Also in: Covid-19