Arch’s mobile vaccination service gets off to a flying start

On a freezing cold February morning we were delighted to spread a little cheer in the form of a mobile vaccination service, reaching some of Brighton and Hove’s residents who are without permanent homes.

Whilst many are eligible for the vaccine, they may be suffering from other health complications and unable to get the central vaccination sites, and so it is vital to ensure they are not missed out.

We started at one of the larger hostels in the city, with residents eagerly lining up and the vaccination process working extremely smoothly. Arch director Hannah (ANP) led a team provided from St John Ambulance, Sussex Community Foundation Trust and Justlife on the first day out on the road which was a great success. People were pleased to be offered the vaccine which they received in the chilly comfort of the Mobile Treatment Centre.

Day one finished with 54 people receiving their first dose of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine. Hannah said, “it’s been fantastic to be able to reach so many people in one day with just a small team. We have reached so many vulnerable people who would be at risk of complications and an extended hospital stay if they did contract the virus, so it’s been really good to get started vaccinating this group today ”.

Arch’s vaccination service will be running for eight weeks initially, three days a week. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays we will be visiting key locations in the city to reach as many people as possible who fit the criteria for vaccination and are currently homeless or vulnerably housed.

Arch CEO Gary Bishop said, “It is vital that we all work together to take the vaccines to clinically vulnerable people who might otherwise find it difficult to access the bigger vaccination sites and we are very proud to be offering this service in partnership with St. John Ambulance, Sussex Community Foundation Trust, Justlife and other local organisations. This service will benefit Brighton and Hove as a whole, supporting our city getting back to normal as soon as possible. We continue to urge anyone who can travel to vaccination sites to wait for a message from their GP confirming when they’re eligible for vaccination. If you know anyone who isn’t registered with a GP, please encourage and support them to register, as this is the most reliable way of ensuring everyone is vaccinated.”

For further information and any updates on the service, please see our dedicated page on this site.