Vaccination transport offer hits 500 journeys to appointments

Shropshire council’s free transport programme to take ‘vulnerable’ residents with no access to transport to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments has now passed its 500th vaccination journey.

The service launched using the council’s own fleet of vehicles, but since then a volunteer fleet of bus and taxi operators have helped out free of charge to ferry people to their appointments.

The service is now starting to take many of its initial users back for their second jab, and is expected to continue operating into mid-summer 2021.

James Willocks, Shropshire Council’s passenger transport manager, said: “This has been another great example of how the community has come together to help those most in need get to their vaccination appointment, if they have no other way of getting there.  

“Thanks to the support of local bus and taxi operators, we’ve helped hundreds of people – often among the most vulnerable in the county – who would otherwise have struggled to get to their vaccination locations.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in helping us protect Shropshire residents.”

All vehicles have appropriate ventilation, with strict infection control measures in place, to ensure they are operated with the highest levels of public health safeguards.