Support for people who need transport to get to their vaccination appointment

Wiltshire Council is making sure all residents are able to get to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Residents have the following options available to them:

• their own vehicle, public transport or a private taxi
• via family, friends or neighbours
• the Link Schemes running across Wiltshire
• rescheduling their appointment to a different time and day when they do have access to transport
• if none of the above are available, call the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub

Start time restrictions on Wiltshire Council bus passes have been temporarily lifted, to help give people more opportunities to get to COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The Link Schemes run by voluntary groups have made over 450 journeys helping our residents to their vaccinations so far. The services they provide are not free and request a donation be made instead.

If a resident has no alternative means to get to a vaccination appointment and has had no success with the above options, the council will support by providing access to a taxi. Residents can contact the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub for further information.

The Wellbeing Hub team will complete a simple transport vaccination form and submit for action.

The day before the journey, one of the council's co-ordinators will contact the resident to check some key COVID questions to ensure everyone's safety and that the transport is safe to go ahead as planned.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: We want to make sure that everyone who has been offered an appointment for their vaccine doesn't miss out.

If people have considered all other options and are having trouble accessing transport to get to their appointments, we urge them to contact our wellbeing hub, who can help arrange transport if required.

The vaccine is our way out of this, so please don't hesitate to get in touch if you need us.

If any residents would like information on accessing support to get to their vaccine, they should contact the council's Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub. People can get in touch with the hub via email at wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or by calling 0300 003 4576. It's available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.

More information on the Link Schemes can be found on Wiltshire Link Scheme - Community First (opens new window).