Abingdon Prep School has tested out the latest scheme to get mobile Covid-19 testing and vaccination centres out into the community.
The ‘testing bus’ prototype arrived at the independent school in Oxfordshire for a trial run, offering lateral flow tests to the staff teaching the children of key workers.
The idea is that any standard city bus or Sprinter van can be converted to a mobile Covid-19 testing or vaccination centre in a few days. It can then be dispatched to areas in the community that are either difficult to reach or require a rapid response.
The company behind this latest step in combating Covid-19 is Project MOVE, based at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.
The multi-use bays provide space for doctors and nurses to deliver a variety of clinical services directly into the community. Once the mobile testing centres are no longer needed the bays can be removed and the bus returned to normal service.
“We were delighted to be able to help with this project,” said Craig Williams, headmaster at Abingdon Prep School.
“The whole process from the bus arriving, parking and opening for testing was very quick, accessible and convenient. I am sure it will be a very valuable resource.”
David Brown, managing director of Project MOVE, added: “We are enormously grateful to Abingdon Prep School for the opportunity to give our bus its first live trial.
“One of the main reasons we created the mobile platform was so that Covid testing and vaccines could be taken directly where they are needed most. Everyone on the Project MOVE team has kids in school so we understand how important it is for schools to maintain the highest levels of safeguarding while minimising disruption.”
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