AS the pace of Covid-19 jabs continues to rise, bus operator The Keighley Bus Company has doubled the frequency of a popular route to make travel safe and simple for those heading for a town vaccination centre.

Long Lee Surgery in Keighley was among the first in Bradford District to begin administering Covid-19 jabs on December 15 last year, and the pace of the campaign is now increasing as more groups of people become eligible for vaccinations.

With the expected rise in the numbers going for a jab in mind, The Keighley Bus Company has doubled the frequency of its Keighley Jets route K5 which serves the Long Lee surgery on its journey between Keighley Bus Station and Thwaites Brow.

The new timetable now in place sees the Keighley Jets K5 service doubled to run every 30 minutes throughout the day on Monday to Saturdays.

The Keighley Bus Company General Manager Alan Isherwood said: “We’re happy to be able to deliver more buses, more often to make travel for vaccinations convenient and comfortable – and as always, our buses are clean, safe and ready to go.

“We’ve also produced a handy guide to reaching vaccination centres right across our network, including Airedale Hospital in Keighley which continues to be served by our Mainline M4 and Dalesway 66 routes, and Silsden Surgery which can be reached using our 62 service.”

Dr Brendan Kennedy, GP Exec Partner at AWC Modality partnership at Long Lee Surgery, is welcoming the increase in buses.

Dr Kennedy said: “It’s fantastic news that The Keighley Bus Company has increased the number of buses to our Long Lee Vaccination Centre. We expect to be very busy on the coming months as we invite patients for their first and second vaccinations – so hopefully more buses will make it easier for patients to get to Long Lee.”

The delivery of the coronavirus vaccine is the largest campaign of its kind in NHS history, and the health service is reminding everyone to be patient and wait to be contacted when it’s their turn for a jab. Getting the vaccination will reduce the chance of complications from the virus, which is the reason why those most at risk are receiving a vaccination first.

Full details of the increased frequency of service on the Keighley Jets K5 bus route, plus a helpful guide showing how to reach local vaccination centres by bus, are available on The Keighley Bus Company’s website at transdevbus.co.uk/keighley with times and tickets also on the free to download ‘Transdev Go’ mobile app.