COVID-19 vaccination bus to visit Knife Angel site

A mobile COVID-19 vaccination bus is to pay an all-day visit to the Knife Angel site in Stoke-on-Trent later this month. Visitors to the thought-provoking 27ft Knife Angel statue, currently on display in the Smithfields area of the town centre, will be able to catch up with their COVID-19 vaccinations by calling at the bus. The vaccination bus, nicknamed Mo, has been travelling around North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, offering a walk-in service for people to have their COVID-19 vaccinations. It will be at the Knife Angel site on Saturday 23 April. The Knife Angel sculpture was made using 100,000 confiscated knives given in to 43 police forces across the UK, including 1,800 which were provided from amnesties in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Created by sculptor Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre in Shropshire, the statue is on a tour of towns and cities around Britain to raise awareness of knife crime and all forms of violence and aggression. Dr Paddy Hannigan, clinical lead for the vaccination programme in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent said: “We’re very grateful to the team in Stoke-on-Trent and all involved in helping us to bring our COVID-19 vaccination bus to the Knife Angel site. “Infection rates for the virus remain high and the vaccines are the best way for people to protect themselves and others. “It’s not too late to receive a first, second, or booster jab of the vaccine. We hope anyone who’s visiting the Knife Angel and who would like to have a vaccine will pop along to the bus and see the team. No appointments are needed.” Mo the mobile vaccination bus will be at the Knife Angel site, Smithfields area, Leonard Coates Way, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4FD on Saturday 23 April from 11am to 4.30pm.