ALMOST £500,000 is set to be invested to improve Southampton’s levels in take up of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Newly recruited “vaccine champions” will soon be targeting areas of the city that have the lowest vaccine uptake rates to provide support, overcome barriers and address misinformation.

Funded through a grant of £485k from central government, Southampton City Council said the champions will be an “invaluable recourse”.

The scheme is expected to complement the authority’s existing Covid-19 community champions who have helped the city in response to the pandemic.

Director for public health Debbie Chase said: “I’m thrilled that Southampton has been awarded this funding.

“There are so many messages about the Covid-19 vaccination on social media that simply aren’t true and it’s causing great harm.

“This will provide us with an opportunity to address those anti-vax messages and ensure that our residents get all the information they need to stay safe from this virus and help save lives.”

The programme will consist of team leaders recruited from various of the authority’s partners.

These will each have a group of volunteers who will help to educate and inform residents about the benefits of getting vaccinated, direct those living in the area to their nearest vaccine centre and discuss general Covid-19 information.

Cabinet member for health and adult social care, Councillor Ivan White, said: “This funding comes at the perfect time for Southampton. It’s fantastic that so many of our residents have already been fully vaccinated against the virus, but we still have work to do.

“This programme is going to help us to reach more people, answer their questions and encourage more of our residents to get vaccinated.”