Assembly Written Question 2347/17-22

To ask the Minister of Health to outline his plans for pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Answer: We have delivered a vaccine to 1,171,653 people with 890, 335 people have now received both doses. As we near the end of the current programme we want to ensure the highest uptake of vaccine and have expanded our deployment methods to achieve this by making vaccination as accessible as possible, particularly those aged 18 to 29 years of age. In addition a programme of targeted pop up clinics reaching into particular communities is underway.

The Health Trusts have developed plans to run mobile vaccination clinics across Northern Ireland, primarily targeting areas of high footfall. In addition, as the programme is open to the youngest adults, we are targeting areas where younger adults can be reached. These mobile clinics are in addition to the pop-up clinics which the PHA/Trusts have organised for particular hard to reach groups/communities.

These mobile clinics have also been the first use of the Moderna vaccine in Northern Ireland.

South Eastern Trust have plans to deploy their vaccination bus in five population centres within their area throughout July. Last weekend saw South Eastern Trust run mobile clinics in Castlewellan and Donard Park, Newcastle. Belfast Trust provided a vaccination bus in Belfast City Centre last weekend and will target other locations, particularly in areas with a high number of persons aged under 30. Southern Trust held a clinic over the weekend at the Quays Shopping Centre, Newry and are planning further mobile clinics. Western and Northern Trusts are also developing plans to deploy mobile vaccination facilities to their population centres.

By way of example of this approach, Community Vaccine Clinics or “pop up” clinics have been led in Ballysally, Coleraine on 12th and 13th May, Creggan on 23rd June, Twinbrook / Poleglass on 21st and 22nd June and for asylum seekers in Belfast on 20th May.

It is hoped these targeted pop up clinics will increase vaccine uptake within specified neighbourhoods by allowing people to come to a local clinic in a familiar community setting.

Walk in clinics at the Trust vaccination centres have also been introduced. SSE Arena ran a pilot walk in clinic on Sunday 27th June, which vaccinated almost 400 individuals, while other Trusts piloted walk in clinics on 29th June and this walk in option will continue.