Walk-in Covid vaccination site opens at Bournemouth University

Following the success of other pop-up clinics in the town, Dorset Health has opened the temporary site inside Kimmeridge House.

The site will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week between the hours of 10am and 4.30pm to motivate over 18s to receive their first does of a vaccine.

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Speaking on the inaugural day of the clinic opening, the operations manager for Dorset Health Belinda Andrews-Jones emphasised the importance of local people getting vaccinated.

She told the Echo: “We need to vaccinate as many people as we can in the Dorset area because it is important that all areas in the community get vaccinated.

“It makes it easier if we can bring the vaccination centre to these communities.”

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The clinic operates on a first come first serve basis and without a booking system which brings its benefits, Ms. Andrew-Jones added: “People can come and just walk in without a prior appointment.

“Which means we can get lots of people through the system and encourage people that wouldn’t necessarily come forward to do so, which is great.”

The clinic operates with an area to queue before those getting jabbed enter the hall to get their vaccine.

After which there is a seating zone in the lobby to rest after people receive their dose; with the opportunity to get a test outside too.

A whole host of people came down to get their jab on the opening morning, one of those was William Green a student in Bournemouth receiving his first vaccination.

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The 21-year-old was impressed by the process, speaking with the Echo he said: “It’s quick and simple with loads of people to give you help even before you go into the building.”

The walk-in clinic was “way easier” for Mr. Green because the only places he could book online were thirty minutes to an hour's drive or bus journey away.

Heath Pine, 27, who serves in the military also found benefit in the walk-in style as he was able to receive his second vaccination on Thursday morning.

He told the Echo: “I booked my second dose for later on but I saw the clinic opening and I wanted to see if I could get that dose a little earlier as I’m deploying shortly.

“The staff have been extremely friendly and very methodical.”

The site was manned by an army of volunteers who were assembled at short notice as the senior volunteer coordinator for Dorset Health, Lou Harfield, told the Echo.

She said: “It's been a great response from our community action network of volunteers who stepped up to cover and work alongside the NHS with less than 24 hours' notice.

“A tremendous community spirit and a great effort.”

Over one million doses have now been administered in the county and around 80 per cent of people in the local area have had their first jab according to Dorset Health Care.