The Highland Council has commissioned a new custom-made mobile vaccination clinic, named “Jabbernaut”. It will enable NHS Scotland to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations directly in communities throughout the region, which comprises almost 10,000sq miles of the northernmost part of the country.
The special trailer will be hauled by a 2012 Volvo FH 500 6x2 tractor, both acquired from Nottingham’s Walker Movements. The other key donor to the project is Inverness glazing specialist, the Cairngorm Group, which has provided the trailer’s interior fittings. A second rig is now being arranged.
The council’s contribution to the cause also includes providing an accompanying welfare vehicle, and supplying drivers. It has redeployed its team of school nurses to help administer the vaccine.
Mike Cooper, Highland Council’s transport and logistics manager said “Council staff are very pleased to be able to respond to NHS Highland’s need for a mobile vaccination unit. We did this in consultation with NHS Highland’s staff to understand what was required for their design specification. We bought a unit and 40ft box trailer and then constructed and kitted out the trailer as a vaccination centre which meets all the medical and vehicle safety requirements.”
NHS Highland’s medical director, Dr Boyd Peters added “The Highland Council teams have really understood our needs and what we require in order to deliver vaccines to the population. The vaccination programme in NHS Highland continues to progress well and with the introduction of the “Jabbernaut” I look forward to seeing that progress continue.”
