This weekend, the Leeds festival kicks off at Bramham Park – bringing thousands of festival-goers together for three days of nonstop music and partying.
With excitement in the air, queues are already starting to form at the sites as large groups come together for a raucous weekend.
But there’s a new addition to the festival this weekend, as pop-up vaccination clinics are appearing across the festival site in the hopes it will encourage revellers to get their jab whilst attending the event.
Designed to make getting an injection as easy as grabbing a beer or a burger, it’s hoped this will encourage uptake amongst younger age groups – especially now that 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible to get the jab.
However, there is one catch – you cannot be under the influence of any alcohol or drugs when getting the vaccine.
Recently, there have been a number of stories in the news about large numbers of covid cases being linked to festivals. Boardmasters reported nearly 5,000 covid cases following its Cornwall event, whilst more than 1,000 Latitude attendees have since tested positive for the virus.
In recent months, the number of young people admitted to hospital with coronavirus has increased with those aged 18-30 now making up a fifth of all hospital admissions. The majority of these also tend to be unvaccinated.
Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP and deputy lead for NHS England’s vaccination programme, said: “Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers, more than half a million young people aged 16 and 17 have had their first dose as teams across the country have worked tirelessly to get their communities protected, vaccinating at convenient pop-up clinics in the park, at places of worship and stadiums, and now at Reading and Leeds.
“It is great to see the return of live music and performances, and as festivalgoers head to the main stage this weekend to see their favourite headliners, I am also urging anyone who hasn’t to add the ‘vaccine tent’ to their festival itinerary to get that lifesaving vaccine as the best protection we can get from coronavirus.”
Feature image – samsaundersleeds
