Walk-in vaccination clinics are open across Wolverhampton again this week, to encourage more people to have their Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible.

Although social restrictions have now been lifted, Covid-19 has not gone away and infection rates continue to rise, with over 1,100 people in the city testing positive in the last seven days.

Vaccination is the best defence against serious illness caused by Covid-19. To make accessing first and second doses of the life-saving vaccine easy, walk-in clinics are open again this week, offering jabs without needing to book ahead:

• Alfred Squire Health Centre, Wednesfield WV11 1XU Tuesday 20 July
• Woodcross Health Centre, Bilston WV14 9BX Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 July
• Bradley Methodist Church, Bilston WV14 8TH Tuesday 20, then Thursday 22 until Sunday 25 July
• Whitmore Reans Health Centre WV6 0QL Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 July
• Aldersley Leisure Village WV6 9NW Wednesday 21 July and Sunday 25 July
• Keats Grove Surgery, Low Hill WV10 8LY Wednesday 21 July

These clinics are in addition to the vaccine bus, which will be at Wednesfield Community Hub, Well Lane (next to Sainsbury’s) from Thursday 22 until Sunday 25 July.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Infection rates are rising sharply and are predicted to increase further now that social restrictions have been eased.

“There are still a lot of young people who have not yet had their first doses. Although they have only recently been eligible, there is no time to delay; the sooner they have their vaccinations, the sooner they will be protected.”

“A lot of people may still be waiting to have their second doses, which are now recommended at eight weeks after the first one, for all ages. You can get these at walk-in clinics or at the vaccine bus too. Completing your vaccination by having the second dose will give you the best protection from Covid-19, so it’s important to do so as soon as possible.”

New clinics are added regularly, and full details of locations, opening times and types of vaccine available can be found at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/localvaccine

Wolverhampton’s walk-in vaccination locations are in addition to pre-bookable clinics that are available online at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling NHS 119.

Latest figures show there were 445 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last seven days. That means 1,170 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.