A Swindon pub is being used as a vaccination clinic on Thursday in a first for the region amid hopes the popular venue will help reach the heart of the Penhill community.

The Moonrakers on Cricklade Road was chosen as a vaccination site by the Bath and  North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group in a bid to encourage people living in Penhill and Pinehurst to get jabbed. New insights reveal vaccine uptake in Penhill is lower than anywhere else in Swindon.  

The pub will host a pop-up Covid-19 vaccine clinic on February 3 between 10am and 6pm where any person over the age of 16 can walk in and grab a jab without booking an appointment in advance. 

Those going will be able to receive their first and second doses of the vaccine as well as the booster jab in order to protect themselves against the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Gill May, the CCG’s director of nursing and quality, said: “Our vaccination clinics have been held in a range of different venues over the last year or so, but this is the first time we have set up inside a pub. 

“The Moonrakers is well known for being a cornerstone of the Penhill and Pinehurst communities, and we’re hopeful that as many people as possible in these areas who have so far resisted having the vaccine will pay us a visit. 

“Although restrictions have been eased in recent weeks, Covid-19 has not gone away, and new people every day are becoming unwell. 

“This is why it’s just as important as it ever has been for people to get vaccinated, as doing so not only protects the individual, but also helps to stop them from spreading Covid-19 on to friends and loved ones.” 

The pop-up clinic has been made possible with the help of Arkells Brewery, which manages the pub. 

Managing director George Arkell said: “With the Moonrakers being at the heart of the community, we are keen to support this venture, the NHS and the vaccine rollout.” 

A walk-in vaccine clinic continues to be held at Sanford House every Tuesday.

The Moonrakers pop-up clinic is the latest in a long line of community-based vaccination centres that have been set up across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire in recent weeks. Bath City Football Club’s home at Twerton Park and Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain have also been used as sites.