Ford has joined forces with the NHS in Essex to adapt one of its Transit vans into a mobile Covid-19 vaccination unit to help target areas that have a low vaccine take-up.

As part of an initiative across Mid and South Essex, one of the firm’s vans has received a range of adaptations to be able to go out and administer vaccines to those in the community. The Transit is set to be used across Essex, and work with GP practices and local community leaders to drive up the number of vaccines.

Those without a home, ethnically diverse communities, travelling communities and unregistered patients are all set to benefit from the mobile clinic, which aims to join the NHS’s efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible in a bid to stop Covid-19 from spreading.

The Transit is part of a pilot initially, though there’s hope that more vehicles will be used in the future. The van has been adapted by West Yorkshire-based specialist vehicle builders Venari Group. Key changes include the addition of a medical grade refrigerator to store vaccines, in-built Wi-Fi and a collapsible chair to administer vaccines.

Mandy Dean, director of commercial vehicles at Ford of Britain, said: “Over the coming weeks, this Ford Transit will make some incredibly important journeys as a vaccination van. Working with the NHS and community leaders to deliver this brilliant scheme and bolster the exemplary vaccine rollout, has been a privilege.

“Full credit is due to our conversion partners at Venari Group, who continue to work with us to make thousands of life-saving vehicles for the emergency services every year.”