Highland CouncilThe Highland Council and NHS have created a custom mobile coronavirus vaccination clinic that will deliver immunisation across the vast region.
Dubbed the Jabbernaut, Highland Council staff bought a 40ft box trailer and then kitted it out to meet all the medical requirements of a vaccine centre as a way of tackling the specific challenges of delivering the Covid-19 jab across the Highlands.
Local business, Cairngorm Group, donated windows and doors for the custom-made build which is a result of partnership working between the council and the health board.
Chris Dowling, joint managing director of Cairngorm Group said: “It’s been well publicised that our best way out of this pandemic is through the vaccine programme so we are delighted to be able to play our part in help making this happen.
Highland Council“The geography of the Highlands has always meant we would need a bespoke approach compared to other parts of the country so the staff at both NHS Highland and Highland Council should be applauded for their forward thinking.”
Highland Council transport and housing maintenance staff procured the materials and put together the purpose-built mobile vaccination unit.
Mike Cooper, Highland Council’s transport and logistics manager, said: “Council staff are very pleased to be able to respond to NHS Highland’s need for a mobile vaccination unit. We did this in consultation with NHS Highland’s staff to understand what was required for their design specification.
“We bought a unit and 40ft box trailer and then constructed and kitted out the trailer as a vaccination centre which meets all the medical and vehicle safety requirements.”
Highland CouncilDr Boyd Peters, medical director for NHS Highland, said: “The Highland Council teams have really understood our needs and what we require in order to deliver vaccines to the population.
“The vaccination programme in NHS Highland continues to progress well and with the introduction of the Jabbernaut I look forward to seeing that progress continue.”
The Highland Council is also supporting NHS Highland in the vaccination programme roll-out by providing a welfare vehicle, supply vehicle and drivers in the delivery of vaccinations to Highland communities, along with help in identifying and using other venues where needed.
The council’s school nurses team is also helping to administer vaccinations.
Councillor Allan Henderson, chair of the council’s communities and place committee, said: “I commend council staff for their creativity and very positive approach to partnership working with NHS Highland to create the Jabbernaut and I thank the Cairngorm Group for their very generous donations of new windows and doors for the build.
“The Jabbernaut will help enable NHS staff to deliver their vaccination programme across Highland regardless of location.”
Vaccinations at the Jabbernaut are by appointment only. The council wanted to remind people to only attend if they have been given a time and date.
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