Coronavirus: News from our partners – Football fans can give virus the red card at Shrewsbury Town match

News from our partners Integrated Care System (ICS)

Football fans can score a goal in the battle against coronavirus – as Bob the Vaccination Bus pulls up at Shrewsbury Town’s next home match on Saturday (18 December 2021).

Bob will be at the Montgomery Waters Meadow from 10am on Saturday, ahead of Town’s League One clash with Cheltenham Town.

Supporters of both teams will be able to get a jab on the bus, which will remain at the stadium throughout the day until about 6pm.

The vaccination team will be able to give booster jabs to anyone aged 18 and over who is eligible. They will also be offering first or second doses to anyone who has yet to take up the vaccine offer.

Steve Ellis, Deputy Senior Responsible Officer for the vaccination programme in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, said:-

“Bob visited Shrewsbury Town at the start of the football season and we were very pleased with the response we had from supporters then.

“We hope they will turn up in their numbers again and play their part in the battle to beat coronavirus.

“The virus has certainly proven to be a tricky opponent, and there is a real threat that the NHS will be overwhelmed by an Omicron wave shortly if we do not act now.

“We can prevent that by getting every adult to take up their booster jab before the end of the year. It’s why we’re trying to deliver 18.3 million booster doses nationally, and 137,000 here in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, by 31 December.

“The research has shown that the booster dose gives you a much better level of protection against the Omicron variant, so I would encourage anyone to take up the opportunity.

“We would like to thank Shrewsbury Town, who have been terrific supporters of the fight against coronavirus throughout the past couple of years. We’re grateful that they are welcoming us to their game again to extend this offer to fans.”

Brian Caldwell, Chief Executive of Shrewsbury Town, said the club were keen to invite Bob the Bus back to the club as soon as they heard the announcement of the booster jab campaign:-

“We know the vaccination programme is the way we eventually get out of this horrible pandemic.

“There is hardly anyone now who has not been touched by the virus – either directly or through family and friends.

“Here at Shrewsbury we saw the terrible impact it had on our manager Steve Cotterill, who was in intensive care back in January 2021.

“I would encourage any Shrewsbury or Cheltenham fan who is eligible for their booster to pop round and see the vaccination team on the bus on Saturday – before or after the match.”