Heart of Portsmouth hosts pop-up vaccine clinic

Southern Counties club Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy welcomed an NHS Covid-19 vaccine pop-up clinic at the weekend (Sunday 11th April).

The gym played host to the Solent NHS Trust’s community team who were determined to are going the extra mile to reach even more eligible people who have not yet received their first dose.

It was operated by staff from the four large-scale vaccine centres run by the Trust and linked in with England Boxing’s #WinWithTheJab campaign, which has been aiming to address the doubts of people, in particular those connected to boxing, who are yet to take up the offer of a vaccine.

Heart of Portsmouth Head Coach and England Boxing Talent Pathway Coach, Q Shillingford, said: “We have been trying to convince people who aren’t sure that having the Covid-19 jab when they are offered it is the right thing to do.

“Those involved in amateur boxing have been really missing gyms and our way of life in general, but this vaccine offers us a way out and can help things open up even more and eventually help us get back to something like normal.”

With almost 1,000 clubs and 20,000 members around the country, at the onset of the pandemic, England Boxing has been uniquely placed to help the NHS reach into local communities.

It has produced a Q&A on vaccines, featuring NHS Professor Anton Emmanuel, which you can view here, along with a series of case studies.

Angela Anderson, Clinical Director for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at Solent NHS Trust who worked closely with the academy to set up the pop-up clinic, said: “Holding the clinic at the boxing academy will help us to vaccinate even more eligible people in Portsmouth.

“It is fantastic to have been able to offer vaccinations to people in the boxing community, as well as eligible people in their families. Our teams were on hand to offer support, guiding people through their vaccination experience in a safe and reassuring way.

“It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone at the Boxing Academy who have come together to support the pop-up vaccination clinic. It’s one of the latest examples of how we’re working creatively to reach even more people and offer them the opportunity to protect themselves against Covid-19.”

People are being urged to continue to follow the Government’s guidelines on Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.

For more information about England Boxings #WinWithTheJab campaign please click here.