One of Swindon’s most recognisable pubs is set to become the town’s newest Covid-19 vaccination centre.
The Moonrakers, near Penhill, will host a pop-up Covid-19 vaccine clinic on Thursday (3rd February), between 10am and 6pm.
Those going along to the Cricklade Road pub will be able to receive their first and second doses of the vaccine, as well as the all-important booster jab, which provides the top-up needed to stay protected against the highly-transmissible
Omicron variant of coronavirus.
The venue was chosen as the latest site to host a Covid-19 vaccine clinic after insights revealed that vaccination uptake in nearby Penhill is lower than elsewhere in Swindon.
Any person over the age of 16 will be able to walk in to the pub and grab a jab without the need to have booked an appointment.
Arkells’ support
Gill May, director of nursing and quality, said: “Our vaccination clinics have been held in a range of different venues over the last year or so, but this is the first time we have set up inside a pub.
“The Moonrakers is well known for being a cornerstone of the Penhill and Pinehurst communities, and we’re hopeful that as many people as possible in these areas who have so far resisted having the vaccine will pay us a visit.”
She added: “Although restrictions have been eased in recent weeks, Covid-19 has not gone away, and new people every day are becoming unwell.
“This is why it’s just as important as it ever has been for people to get vaccinated, as doing so not only protects the individual, but also helps to stop them from spreading Covid-19 on to friends and loved ones.”
The Moonrakers pop-up clinic is the latest in a long line of community-based vaccination centres that have been stood up across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire in recent weeks.
The pop-up clinic at the Moonrakers has been made possible with the help of Arkells Brewery, which owns the pub. George Arkell, managing director of Arkells Brewery, said: “With the Moonrakers being at the heart of the community, we are keen to support this venture, the NHS, and the vaccine rollout.”
Further information about the local rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, including an extensive list of frequently asked questions, as well as details of current vaccination sites, can be found at www.bswccg.nhs.uk.
