Wandsworth’s First Pop-up Vaccination Clinic Makes History on National Day of Reflection

Wandsworth’s first pop-up vaccination clinic at the Fazl Mosque in Southfields proved a great success with over 1000 members of the community taking up the COVID-19 jab in just one day.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK offered to host the clinic supporting the national effort to boost uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine and the event was especially poignant as it took place on the National Day of Reflection on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown. Community members and NHS staff stood together outside the mosque for the silence and the photograph was shared across media channels.

Previously the community hosted Merton’s first pop-up vaccination clinic at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, where 1000 community members received their vaccination.

The latest clinic was set up in just a few days by the mosque community, including more than 40 volunteers, and a 14 strong NHS South West London team from the Wandle Primary Care Network led by Dr Laura Quinton.

Dr Quinton said: “We were delighted to be invited to run our first ever pop-up clinic in Wandsworth making history on such a memorable day looking back on the year we have had and remembering loved ones lost to the pandemic in the silence. It is more important than ever to encourage everyone who is invited for a vaccination to take up the offer and protect themselves and our communities and save lives. We are truly appreciative to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK for welcoming us today and look forward to working with them further in the future.”

The National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, Rafiq Hayat said: “Recent studies have shown significantly lower than average take-up of vaccines among BAME people, however as Muslims, service to humanity is our duty, and we have been clear that we fully support the vaccination programme. “It is hoped that with the programme of clinics such as these, we can further encourage as many of our local community members to take up the vaccine. I am pleased that through the past two pop-up vaccine clinics around 2,000 vaccinations have been given. “We are very grateful to the NHS heroes who are working hard to protect the health of the nation – they deserve our constant prayers and immense gratitude.”

Read original article HERE.

In February, Merton’s first pop-up vaccination clinic was held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque.