More specialist COVID-19 vaccination clinics for people with learning disabilities and autism will be held over the next three months to enable people to get their boosters and vaccines in a calm and friendly environment that meets their needs.
The clinics will be held on the following dates and venues:
- Thursday 27 January: Loughborough Hospital
- Wednesday 23 February: the Peepul Centre
- Thursday 31 March: Loughborough Hospital
All clinics will run from 10am to 6pm and need to be booked in advance. The vaccine used will be Pfizer.
The sessions are open to anyone with a learning disability or autism in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, aged 12 or over, who is due for a first, second or booster COVID-19 vaccination. They are designed for people who need a more supportive environment than an ordinary clinic can provide.
The clinics will offer a calm atmosphere, longer appointment times and be staffed by vaccinators specialising in learning disability support and care.
Sam Screaton, learning disability vaccination clinical lead at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “It is extremely important to us to ensure the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are accessible to everyone.
“If you catch COVID-19 it can make you poorly. People with a learning disability are more likely to become very poorly if they catch coronavirus, so getting the protection from the vaccine is the best way to stay healthy.
“We have also opened these sessions up to those aged 12 and above, to enable school-age young people with learning disabilities to take advantage of these clinics.
“I can assure anyone who is nervous about coming that all the people who work at the clinics are very friendly and will make sure you feel as comfortable and calm as possible.”
To book, please us the following links. Please specify in the additional comments box if you need for us to make any specialist adaptations, such as needing a private or quiet space.
- Book an appointment at either of the learning disability clinics at Loughborough Hospital, on Hospital Way, LE11 5JY.
- To book an appointment at the learning disability clinic at the Peepul Centre, on Orchardson Avenue in Leicester, LE4 6DP.
More information about booster vaccines can be found in this easy read format.
This video from the Misfits Theatre company from Bristol, in partnership with NHS England, gives a message encouraging people with learning disabilities to get their COVID-19 booster vaccination:
See ITV coverage from our previous clinic: