Mobile vaccination centres are to begin vaccinating students as they are set up across the six Further Education Colleges in a further push to encourage young people to get protected against Covid-19.
Working in partnership with the Public Health Agency and local health trusts, College leaders are encouraging those students who have yet to receive the vaccine to do so at one of the vaccine clinics on campus.
The vaccine pop-ups, which begin today, are also open for anyone aged 16 and above who are not enrolled at their local Further Education College but would like to avail of the jab.
The Department of Health’s ‘Jabbathon’ initiative, will see 60 pop-up clinics open across 30 Further Education and university campus sites across Northern Ireland, and is the latest step in the vaccine push for those aged between 16-29.
Leo Murphy, Principal and Chief Executive of North West Regional College said:
“It is fantastic to welcome the pop-up vaccination clinics to our college campuses and bring the vaccine right to our students, giving them convenient access to this service as they attend their lectures, seminars and classes.”
Karen Moore, Chair of the FE Colleges Covid Champions Group for the six Further Education Colleges said:
“From the beginning of September, significant work has been undertaken across the College estates to make the necessary changes to ensure the safe return to campus. We have been working with our student population to remind learners that face masks and social distancing are still required on college grounds, as per the PHA guidelines. We are also encouraging students to use Lateral Flow Tests as an extra precaution. Over the next weeks, staff will be onsite to provide students with advice and information about the vaccine and how to remain Covid safe while on campus.
“We have been working in partnership with the PHA and local health trusts to ensure students have the best access to the vaccine and the ‘Jabbathon’, with over 20 Further Education sites available, means students will not have far to go to get jabbed as the new academic year begins. We are very pleased to be playing our part in the Covid-19 fight back and look forward to welcoming our health colleagues onto our campuses to help get the jab done.”
The dates and campus sites of each pop-up clinic:
Northern Regional College
Ballymena campus clinic in Seven Towers centre, 13th September and 15th September – 9am to 5pm
Ballymoney Campus, 13th September and 14th September – 10 am to 2.30pm
Coleraine Campus, 13th September and 14th September – 10am to 2.30pm
Magherafelt Campus, 13th September and 14th September – 10 am to 2.30pm
Newtownabbey Campus, 13th September and 14th September – 10am to 2.30pm
North West Regional College
Limavady Campus, 13th September, 2 pm to 6 pm
Strand Road Sports Hall, 15th September 1pm to 5 pm and 16th September 4pm to 8pm
South West Regional College
Omagh Campus, 14th September 9.30am to 1.30pm and 16th September 4pm to 8pm
Enniskillen Campus, 15th September 1pm to 5pm
Dungannon Campus, Main Hall, 15th September 11am to 5pm
Southern Regional College
Portadown Campus, The Conference Room/The Oracle, 13th September 10am to 5pm
Lurgan Campus, 13th September 11am to 3pm
Newry Campus, West Exams Hall, 14th September 10am to 3pm
Greenbank Campus Marquee, 14th September 11am to 3pm
Armagh Campus, Central Hall, 16th September 10am to 5pm
Banbridge Campus, Central Hall, 17th September 10am to 1pm
Belfast Metropolitan College
Titanic Quarter Campus: 20th, 22th and 23th Sept 2021 9.30pm – 4.30pm
Milfield Campus: 20th, 22th, 24th Sept 2021 10am – 4pm
Castlereagh Campus: 21th Sept 2021 9.30pm – 4.30pm
Springvale Campus: 21th Sept 2021 10am – 4pm
South East Regional College
Bangor Campus: 27th Sept (Time TBC)
Newtownards Campus: 28th Sept 2021 (Time TBC)
Lisburn Campus: 29th Sept 2021 (Time TBC)
Downpatrick Campus: 30th Sept 2021 (Time TBC)