Hundreds vaccinated at Staffordshire University’s first pop-up vaccination centre
Staffordshire University, in partnership with Harley Street Medical Centre, vaccinated more than 700 students and staff at a pop-up vaccination centre on Wednesday 9 June.
The Harley Street team vaccinated around 100 people an hour and in just seven hours, more than 700 students and staff received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Harley Street Medical centre is working as part of Hanley, Bucknall and Bentilee Primary Care Network (PCN) to run local vaccine clinics managed by Clinical Director Dr Stephanie Summers.
Yvonne Bell, Practice Manager at Harley Street Medical Centre, said: "I have worked with our local CCG to secure the vaccines for the University’s students and staff. Anyone who gets COVID-19 can become seriously ill or have long-term effects and the COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others.
"We're really pleased to have been able to help more students and staff at Staffordshire University get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.
"It’s important that everyone attends for their second vaccines to complete their immunisation against COVID-19.”
The University has been offering on-site lateral flow testing since Autumn, and is currently providing free home testing kits through the Universities Home Testing Programme.
The vaccination pop-up is the latest step taken by Staffordshire University to support the national COVID-19 effort and protect its community.
Paula Dalziel, Head of Student Support, Wellbeing and Inclusion at Staffordshire University, said: “We had a brilliant response to the announcement that we would be offering vaccinations at the University. The appointments filled up as soon as they were released, and we decided to extend our opening hours to accommodate an additional 100 people that were initially on the waiting list.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have focussed on keeping our students and staff safe and through our latest partnership with Harley Street Medical Centre, we are delighted to offer the vaccine to a significant number of people that haven’t yet had the opportunity to receive it elsewhere.
“We hope that, given the response to our first pop-up centre, there may be opportunities to run more vaccination days at the University in the near future.”
Rhys Reynolds, 21, an undergraduate studying Concept Art for Games and Film, said: “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to get the vaccine before I go home for the summer holidays, particularly as I am under 25 years old and otherwise don’t know when I would receive it.
“I think it’s important for students to get vaccinated and play their part. Myself and all my friends immediately booked in to be vaccinated at the University’s pop-up centre.”
Masters student Chris Steers, 24, said: “I really couldn’t wait and booked on as soon as I got the email. Young people get a lot of stick about not doing the right thing for the good of the country but give them a chance and they’ll take it. I think it’s worthwhile getting it done and just getting the first dose is a big step.”
The LRV on Leek Road is also home to the University’s ‘Swabbing Centre’ run in conjunction with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The swabbing centre offers lateral flow rapid testing for anyone who does not have COVID-19 symptoms. Staff, students and members of the public are able to book a lateral flow test at LRV by visiting https://www.stoke.gov.uk/bookacovid19test
Ellie Wardlaw
Communications Officer
m: 07775 723984
e: ellie.wardlaw1@staffs.ac.uk
Staffordshire University is the Connected University; connected to the needs of students, academic partners, business and society. Our main city campus in Stoke-on-Trent features excellent learning and teaching facilities and good transport links. We have specialist Centres of Excellence in Healthcare Education at Stafford and Shrewsbury.
We were recognised with a Gold award in the 2019 Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) for delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for students.
We were shortlisted for University of the Year at the THE Awards 2020 and were named ‘Midlands University of the Year’ at the Midlands Business Awards 2020.
Staffordshire University has signed up to the Civic University Agreement, pledging to play a leading role in improving the regional economy and enhancing quality of life in local communities. We were recognised in the top 15 for social inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. We aim to be a leading university for digital technologies building on our proud computing heritage and in 2019 launched Staffordshire University London’s Digital Institute which is committed to preparing students for careers in new and emerging tech industries.
We are a Top 250 Young University (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020) and are connected globally, with more than 11,000 people studying Staffordshire University degrees overseas.
