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Two helplines to answer any questions people may have around the Covid-19 vaccination are up and running in Kent and Medway.

Commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the first, provided by Involve Kent, will support those who may be hesitant about vaccination or who are among the groups still to be vaccinated.

Involve Kent’s dedicated phone helpline and advice service answers questions from the community around vaccine hesitancy; providing assurance, information and signposting to encourage people to go to a walk-in vaccination clinic.

You can get in touch between 8.30am and 5pm, from Monday to Friday, by phoning 0330 320 4444.

The second service - a helpline run by the Compas Charity - aims to improve uptake in Eastern European Roma communities.

The service is overseen by members of the Eastern European Roma community and provides reassurance and information in Czech, Slovak and Romani.

You can call between 9am to 5pm, from Monday to Friday by calling 07518 945849.

CCG’s Priscilla Kankam said: “The two helplines will enable us to reach out to communities to provide the support and information they need to make an informed decision on having the vaccine.

“It’s important that everyone eligible in Kent and Medway receive two doses of the vaccine, as this provides the best protection for themselves, their family and their community.”

Anyone aged over 18 can now have their Covid-19 vaccination. You can book an appointment online at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119, or you can pop along to one of our walk-in clinics.

For a full list of walk-in clinics in Kent and Medway, visit www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/grabajab