Additional walk-in clinics are taking place across Somerset this week – giving local people more opportunities to get their Covid-19 jabs.

After a healthy flurry of bookings for boosters/vaccinations pre-Christmas, there has been a noticeable drop off after the festive period. There is lots of walk-in availability at a number of vaccination sites across Somerset in January. These slots are available for first, second and booster vaccinations for everyone aged 18 and for first and second vaccinations for those aged 12–15 and 16-17. Visit theGrab a Jabsite for information about any walk-in clinics being held near you.

Professor Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health for Somerset County Council, said: "The vaccination remains the best form of defence that we have against covid, and I would urge anyone who is yet to receive their first dose, second dose or booster to step forward when invited.

"There are extra clinics held across Somerset this week to give local people the best opportunity to get their vaccinations, and I would encourage anyone who has not already done so to book their jab and help play their part to stop the spread of the virus."

In total, the provisional data shows over 1.3 million vaccinations have been given in Somerset, including just under 340,000 booster jabs. This means that approximately 80% of eligible people have received their booster jab meeting, the end of the year national target. However, there is still an estimated 90,000 eligible people in Somerset that have not yet received their booster jab (of these about 6,000 have only had their second dose in the last couple of weeks, so won't yet be eligible yet for their boosters).

Andy Heron, joint senior responsible officer for the vaccination programme in Somerset, said: "Across our county we have pulled out all the stops to ramp up capacity in our vaccination centres, and open pop-up clinics, so that we everyone in Somerset who is eligible for a booster jab, or has yet to have their first or second vaccinations, can come forward and protect themselves against Covid-19. We have had a fantastic response, but we are still urging people to come forward. Vaccinators are standing by in walk-in clinics to give you your booster."

"This week we are holding extra clinics across Somerset. Many of these walk-in clinics are at familiar locations like the Bridgwater Town Hall from 9am – 5pm, Firepool in Taunton from 9am – 5pm and the Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford from 9am – 5pm.

Cllr Leigh Redman, Mayor of Bridgwater, said: "It's a great privilege to host a Vaccination Centre here at Bridgwater Town Hall. We are all very proud of playing our part in helping to deliver vaccinations for people in the area during this time and we are really grateful tothecommunityfor allowing the use of their Town Hall."

"We hope the location of the site will make it easier for those living in the wider Bridgwater area toaccessand therefore enable more people to get their vaccinationin a convenient way."

The following walk-in clinics are available:

Haynes Motor Museum (Sparkford, Yeovil, BA22 7LH)

Tuesday – Friday 7 Jan from 9.00am – 5pm Bridgwater Town Hall (High St, Bridgwater, TA6 3BL)

Tuesday – Friday 7 January from 9am – 5pm

Firepool (Canal Road, Taunton, TA1 1NY)

Tuesday – Sunday 9 Jan from 9.00am – 5.00pm Alfred Gillet Trust within Clarks Village (access through the Clarks village - Grange carpark not Farm Road) Sat 8 January from 9.00am-4.30pm Sun 9 January from 10.00am--3.30pm If you need a Covid-19 vaccination and cannot come to any of the extra walk-in vaccination clinics being held this week, you can also: Book a vaccination slot by ringing 119 or visiting theNational Booking Service Visit theGrab a Jabsite HERE : for information about any walk-in clinics being held near you.