Manchester City Council and local taxi firm offering free ‘jab cabs’ to vaccination centres

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Manchester City Council has announced that its ‘JabCab’ service is returning this winter to provide free taxi rides for residents who need to get to and from their COVID vaccination appointments.

You may remember that earlier this year, a similar scheme was set up that helped hundreds of people travel to vaccination centres in Moss Side and Bellevue, and now it’s back to aid with the continued roll-out of the booster jab programme before the arrival of Christmas.

All Mancunians are entitled to a free taxi ride to get to the range of vaccination centres across Manchester.

Manchester City Council says that the service has been expanded due to the need to support people who cannot walk to vaccination sites, who cannot drive, or who cannot get there via public transport either.

Local Manchester-based taxi firm, Street Cars, will be offering the free service, with residents only needing to call 0161 228 7878 to book a car.

The following vaccination sites are eligable:

People should book a vaccination or booster appointment in advance, or check ahead and choose a vaccination centre which is taking walk ups.

Use the reference term ‘ManchesterJabCab’ with taxi firm Street Cars when ordering.

Street Cars will need your address, the vaccine centre you will be attending, and the number of passengers who will be travelling.

Local Manchester-based taxi firm, Street Cars, will be offering the free service / Credit: Facebook (Street Cars)

Speaking about the importance of the ManchesterJabCab initiative, David Regan – Manchester’s Director of Public Health – said: “Providing fair and easy access to the Covid jab for people in Manchester has been one of the cornerstones of the vaccination programme.

“This winter we are doing everything we can to get people vaccinated and the ManchesterJabCab is just one tool at our disposal to protect as many people as we can.

“The first week of the expanded booster programme was a huge success, with more than 44,000 booster jabs given in the space of the week [but] the challenge now will be to sustain that and keep people coming in during the Christmas run up.

“We also want to encourage people to get their first dose as it’s never too late to get vaccinated.

“Vaccinations remain the best line of defence against serious illness if you develop Covid and I would ask anyone who’s not yet booked in to take up this opportunity and protect themselves and their loved ones this Christmas.”

Featured Image – Flickr