A MOBILE 'booster bus' is helping alleviate the problems Islanders have been having, trying to get their third Covid vaccination.

After several weeks of frustration, with many people unable to book a booster jab on the Island and being offered only mainland appointment options, the bus has been brought in to help.

There are limitations however, as the service has a capacity of 1,750 vaccinations over the four days.

It opened at Sandown Fire Station yesterday (Thursday) and a huge queue had already formed by 9am. Many reported to the County Press that they queued for around two-and-a-half hours to get their vaccination.

The service is also operating today (Friday) at Moa Place Car Park, Freshwater, from 9am to 4pm.

The bus will be at the Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown on Saturday, and Central Car Park in Ventnor on Sunday, both from 9am to 4pm.

Isle of Wight County Press: The booster bus in Sandown.

It is available for anyone aged 40 and over, who received their second dose six months ago.

Plans are being scaled up, to ensure everyone aged 18 and over is offered a booster dose by the end of January.

It comes after confusion in messaging over Covid booster vaccinations on the Island was branded a 'train crash'.

Cllr Clare Mosdell, the Isle of Wight Council's former health and social care cabinet member, said people had lost faith with the vaccine rollout programme.

Speaking at Monday's health and social care scrutiny committee meeting, Cllr Mosdell congratulated health partners on the first part of the vaccine rollout but called the most recent third dose rollout a train crash.

Managing director of the NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Alison Smith, apologised for the confusion and admitted they needed to do better.

She said 62 per cent of those over 40 on the Island have had their booster vaccines already.