This week across Birmingham and Solihull we reached the two million jab milestone. This is an incredible achievement by our NHS and all those on the front line, the volunteers, the vaccinators and everyone else who has helped behind the scenes. My plea is get fully vaccinated now and join the millions already protected.
The news has been full of the queues for vaccines at the walk-in centres across the country, and I noticed our own Solihull town centre walk-in, located in-between Pret a Manger and Halifax bank, was very busy too. So successful that they are now increasing the opening hours from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday!
Even better I can confirm that a new Solihull pop-up vaccination centre opened today for the public at Jaguar Land Rover’s brand new Logistics Operations Centre in Solihull.
A big thank you to NHS England and Jaguar Land Rover for making this happen as it reiterates our shared commitment to helping our residents get protected against the ever growing cases of COVID.
The centre is open daily until 24 December from 8am to 6pm, (2pm on 24 December) offering first, second and booster doses for the public and Jaguar Land Rover staff. No appointment is needed, simply turn up and get jabbed!
For details of how to access the new vaccination centre and information on a free shuttle bus service from Chelmsley Wood, including a community transportation service for residents who are unable to get to the vaccination centre from anywhere across the borough, visit Covid-19 Vaccinations in Birmingham and Solihull. Details of alternative vaccination centres can also be found here.
Finally, Solihull Council business comes in all guises, and sometimes it may seem trivial or unimportant, but has a huge effect on our environment and how we feel about our shared spaces. We are currently asking for comments on the updated Environmental Crime Strategy and Action Plan, which sets out the Council’s approach to tackling environmental crime up to and including 2026. This is alongside consulting on two proposed Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) relating to dog controls.
These may seem less important to some people than the issues I have been talking about recently. But it is vital people have their say on these topics so we can keep Solihull clean and pleasant and enjoy both our green spaces and vibrant urban areas. We need to know what you want so that we can put in place the services that will deliver a borough we can all be proud of.
Please get fully COVID vaccinated, especially make sure you get your booster jab – you don’t want to miss out this Christmas!
Join me in wearing a face covering when you’re in crowded spaces, on public transport and in any badly ventilated spaces and keep testing regularly- particularly before and after attending large gatherings, or seeing friends over Christmas to check you haven’t unknowingly got the virus or are likely to spread it!
Take care.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council