A MOSQUE offered coronavirus vaccinations to people across Blackburn and Darwen.

The pop-up vaccination clinic at the Masjid E Saliheen on Didsbury Street was the first to be held in a mosque in Lancashire.

The clinic was set up to encourage people who have not yet come forward to take the jab to do so. 

It was run by the Local Primary Care Federation and Primary Care Network.

Volunteers from the mosque were on hand to act as marshals and welcome and support those attending their vaccination and to ensure safe social distancing were maintained. 

Paul Macmanus, 42, who lives on Burnley Road, said: “Being so close to where I live certainly made a difference.

“It was a very well-run clinic and very slick. Thank you to the mosque for making this possible.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

A woman who lives in Audley said: “It was very convenient and a good idea to have it in a mosque.

“I will be encouraging others to take up the jab. It only took five minutes and everyone was so helpful.”

One man who had travelled from Darwen with his wife said: “I was a little apprehensive having the jab. I just don’t like needles. It was a brilliant idea and I would like to thank all the volunteers for making it a seamless visit.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Suhail Ainarkar, Masjid secretary, said it was encouraging to see residents across the borough attend the mosque and receive their jab.

He said: “As a team at Masjid E Saliheen we are delighted to have worked in partnership with BwDBC, the Local Primary Care Network, NHS CCG, LCM and the Mosque volunteers to offer the first COVID-19 pop-up vaccination clinic in Blackburn, and be a small part of the country’s largest vaccination programme. A lot of hard work and determination from all involved has made this day a success.

“The feedback from the partners and volunteers who have worked together to make this possible, and those who have attended has been overwhelmingly positive and are hopeful to see more accessible locations in community neighbourhoods be used on the future.

“While mosques primarily serve the needs of local Muslims for the purposes of prayer and religious occasions, we at Masjid E Saliheen are very pleased to offer the site as a pop-up clinic and make it convenient for as many people as possible to be vaccinated in their neighbourhoods and look forward to working in collaboration with the wider community in the future."

Members of the mosque worked in partnership with NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) to offer coronavirus vaccinations to eligible local people. These include people over the age of 50, or in an “at-risk” clinically vulnerable group over 16, health and social care workers and carers who have not already had their first jab.

Those who got their first jab at the mosque can return to the same venue on June 19 to get their second vaccination.