Over 200 people visited the Wightman Road Mosque in Hornsey last Saturday as the first pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic took place in Haringey for people to get their jab.
The local NHS has partnered with community organisations to arrange these pop-ups as part of ongoing efforts to increase take-up of the vaccine in the borough.
The clinics are aimed at reaching people who may find it easier to access the vaccine in a more convenient community setting, or who may have previously been hesitant to take the vaccine.
The pop-ups are open to people aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, who have not had their first vaccine.
The following clinics will be taking place over the next few weeks:
· Sunday 21 March, 10am – 1pm: Masjid Ayesha, Clyde Road, N15 4JZ
· Thursday 25th March, 1am – 4pm: St Michael’s church hall, Bounds Green Road, N22
· Monday 29 March, 10am- 1pm: Turkish Cypriot Community Association, 628- 630 Green Lanes N8 0SD
· Thursday 1st April, 1pm- 4pm: Northumberland Park Community Hub, 163 Park Lane, Tottenham, London N17 0JN
· Tuesday 3 April, 10am- 1pm: London Alevi Cultural Centre, Clarendon Road N8 0DD
It is a drop-in service, so no pre-booking is required but attendees will be asked for identification so that they can be logged on the system and invited for their second vaccination at a later date.
Everyone is entitled to primary care regardless of their immigration status in the country, and those who are not registered with a GP or have previously declined the vaccine are also welcome to attend.
The pop-up clinics compliment the main COVID-19 vaccination centres at Bounds Green medical centre, Lordship Lane health centre, Hornsey Central health centre and West Green pharmacy.
Dr Will Maimaris, Director of Public Health at Haringey Council said:
“Getting vaccinated is vital to keeping our communities safe from COVID-19. As with the rest of the UK, we have seen a dramatic reduction in infection and hospitalisation rates since the start of the vaccination rollout, and we must continue to ensure that everyone is protected.
“These additional clinics help residents who may have experienced issues booking appointments, attending appointments, or who weren’t quite ready to take it previously.”
“I would urge everyone to get the vaccine when it is offered by the NHS or at one of the vaccination sites in Haringey.”
Dr Peter Christian, local GP and clinical lead at North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group said:
“We have made massive strides in vaccinating residents in Haringey against COVID-19, however the job isn’t done yet.
“We are delighted to be working closely with our diverse communities to help drive uptake.
“We hope that by providing these extra pop-up clinics in the community, we can reach even more residents and make it much easier for them to be vaccinated and be given the best protection against this devastating disease.”
