How the generosity of Warwick Racecourse has allowed vaccinations for schoolchildren in the Warwick district to continue

Vaccinations for schoolchildren in the Warwick district have continued despite the ongoing restrictions due to Covid-19 - thanks to Warwick Racecourse.

South Warwickshire Immunisation Team have returned to vaccinate school girls against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

But due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and school closures, the team, who are part of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), were unable to give the pupils their second HPV vaccinations.

However, with thanks to Warwick Racecourse they were able to start vaccinating Year 9 girls against the virus earlier this month (July), which kept them within the timeframe to receive their second HPV vaccination.

The racecourse has also allowed the team to use the site free of charge.

Rachael Greaves, senior immunisation nurse at CWPT said: “I am extremely grateful to the team at Warwick Racecourse for coming to our rescue during the coronavirus pandemic.

"They offered us a huge space in one of their permanent marques for free, allowing us to safely run vaccination clinics from the venue, where parents could book appointments to bring their children to us, and so far we have managed to vaccinate over 700 girls out of a cohort of 1,500.

“The vaccinations have been successfully taking place for the last three weeks and we still have three more weeks to go. We also just wanted to, once again extend our thanks to the team at Warwick Racecourse for all their support in allowing us to

continue with these vaccinations.”

Despite the school summer holidays now taking place the team will continue to vaccinate Year 9 girls in South Warwickshire until August 6. Any child who has not been able to attend will be caught up in the next academic year.

Girls in Year 9 who are due the vaccination will be contacted by their school with a date. Nurses are asking people not attempt to visit the team without an appointment.

For more information about HPV visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv and for more information about the vaccine visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-hpv-cervical-cancer-cervarix-gardasil-vaccine/