Residents of West Norfolk are being offered a free taxi ride as part of a new offer to encourage the public to get vaccinated against coronavirus.
Health chiefs are working with transport companies across the region on the Jab Cab initiative, which is expected to continue until the end of next month.
The move comes after recent figures revealed nearly 40 per cent of residents in one area of Lynn are still unvaccinated against Covid-19.
The program was launched today by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) of Norfolk and Waveney, although it says other health service partners are also helping to fund it.
A statement on the GCC website said: “The service aims to help people who are struggling to get a dose of vaccination and to encourage as many people to come forward and protect themselves from the serious complications of catching COVID-19.
“Eligible for people experiencing a first, second or recall, health and care officials across the region hope people will take the opportunity for free travel to protect their health.”
To claim a ride, residents must schedule an immunization appointment before contacting a participating taxi operator.
The latest data, up to yesterday, showed that 85.9 per cent of all people aged 12 and over in West Norfolk have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while just a few more than two-thirds received a reminder.
But equivalent figures earlier this month showed North Lynn had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the entire region.
The latest figures show that 62.6% of over-12s have received a single shot there, while the number of recalls now stands at 38.5%.
The Jab Cab initiative will continue until February 28. For a full list of participating companies, click here.
In other coronavirus news, the latest infection data shows there were 1,541 new cases in west Norfolk in the week to yesterday, down 21% from the week former.
No new deaths were recorded at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn in today’s daily update from NHS England, meaning the total since the start of the pandemic remains at 536.
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