Pop-up vaccine centre to open at AIT as students return to campus

A pop-up vaccination centre will open at the International Arena in Athlone IT this Wednesday.

The clinic will provide first or second doses to students and staff on a walk-in basis, with the aim being to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students.

"To coincide with thousands of students returning to college next week, we will be running a pop-up vaccination clinic at the International Sports Arena on the Athlone Institute of Technology Campus on Wednesday, September 29, from 10am to 4.30pm," said Susan Temple, Co-Ordinator of the Westmeath Vaccination Centre.

"Our aim is to provide a visible and accessible site for any student who has not yet received a vaccination to attend our pop-up clinic to avail of a vaccine.

"We have made great progress with our community vaccination programme and we want to build on these gains and ensure our student population is vaccinated as the new term starts.

"We would like to thank the staff of AIT and the students' union for their help in establishing and promoting this important service for everyone at the college."

Dr Una Fallon, Director of HSE Public Health Midlands said: "The bottom line is that vaccines are providing very effective protection from severe illness. Therefore, it is important that all of us receive our Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to us.

"It is also important that we all continue to wear masks, observe hand and respiratory etiquette, ventilate inside spaces and practice social distancing.

"If you display cold or flu-like symptoms like cough, fever, headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose, self-isolate immediately and arrange a PCR test through the HSE as soon as possible."

Áine Daly, President of the students' union for the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which will replace AIT when it formally opens this Friday, said: "The Students' Union is delighted for the pop-up centre to be available to our students on campus. Accessibility always presents as the largest barrier for students seeking out treatment for their health.

"Having this centre on campus ensures students have easy access to vaccinations, which have accelerated us out of lockdowns endured throughout this pandemic.

"Our return to campus has only been achieved by everyone doing their part, by getting vaccinated, wearing their mask, and maintaining good hand hygiene to reduce the spread and keep everyone safe.

"We encourage the uptake with our students who may not have had the opportunity, and are medically able to do so, to avail of this service and thank them for doing their part in keeping our campus community safe."

People attending the walk-in clinic are being reminded of the documentation they will need to bring when attending it.

If you have already registered online, bring photo ID that shows your date of birth, such as a passport, driving licence, public services card, national age card, or college ID.

If you have not registered online, you will need to bring your PPS number, Eircode, mobile phone number, email address, and photo ID.

More details on walk-in centres can be accessed here: A pop-up vaccination centre will open at the International Arena in Athlone Institute of Technology this week.

The clinic will provide first or second doses to students and staff on a walk-in basis, with the aim being to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students.

"To coincide with thousands of students returning to college next week, we will be running a pop-up vaccination clinic at the International Sports Arena on the Athlone Institute of Technology Campus on September 29, from 10am to 4.30pm," said Susan Temple, Co-Ordinator of the Westmeath Vaccination Centre.

"Our aim is to provide a visible and accessible site for any student who has not yet received a vaccination to attend our pop-up clinic to avail of a vaccine.

"We have made great progress with our community vaccination programme and we want to build on these gains and ensure our student population is vaccinated as the new term starts.

"We would like to thank the staff of AIT and the students' union for their help in establishing and promoting this important service for everyone at the college."

Dr Una Fallon, Director of HSE Public Health Midlands said: "The bottom line is that vaccines are providing very effective protection from severe illness. Therefore, it is important that all of us receive our Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to us.

"It is also important that we all continue to wear masks, observe hand and respiratory etiquette, ventilate inside spaces and practice social distancing.

"If you display cold or flu-like symptoms like cough, fever, headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose, self-isolate immediately and arrange a PCR test through the HSE as soon as possible."

Áine Daly, President of the students' union for the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which will replace AIT when it formally comes into being this Friday, said: "The Students' Union is delighted for the pop-up centre to be available to our students on campus. Accessibility always presents as the largest barrier for students seeking out treatment for their health.

"Having this centre on campus ensures students have easy access to vaccinations, which have accelerated us out of lockdowns endured throughout this pandemic. Our return to campus has only been achieved by everyone doing their part, by getting vaccinated, wearing their mask, and maintaining good hand hygiene to reduce the spread and keep everyone safe.

"We encourage the uptake with our students who may not have had the opportunity and are medically able to do so, to avail of this service and to thank them for doing their part in keeping our campus community safe."

People attending the walk-in clinic are being reminded of the documentation they will need to bring when attending it.

If you have already registered online, bring photo ID that shows your date of birth, such as a passport, driving licence, public services card, national age card, or college ID.

If you have not registered online, you will need to bring your PPS number, Eircode, mobile phone number, email address, and photo ID.

More details on walk-in centres can be accessed here.