Uber is offering free trips to seven mass-vaccination centres across England

Uber is offering free trips to seven mass-vaccination centres across England to help the most vulnerable receive the Covid-19 jab

  • Uber will cover up to £15 of passengers’ trips to and from the vaccine centres
  • To claim a free ride, passengers must enter a promo code in the Uber app
  • Matt Hancock has described the initiative as ‘great’, and hopes it will help to accelerate the vaccine rollout across the country

Uber is offering free trips to seven mass-vaccination centres across England, in the hopes of making it easier for the most vulnerable to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

The ride-hailing firm will cover up to £15 of passengers’ trips to and from these hubs, in line with the cost of the average fare.

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, has described the initiative as ‘great’, and hopes it will help to accelerate the vaccine rollout across the country.

In the hopes of making it easier for the most vulnerable to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Uber has announced that it’s offering free trips to seven mass-vaccination centres across England

HOW TO CLAIM A FREE TRIP 

1. Open the Uber app

2. Tap the menu in the top left of the Uber app and select ‘Wallet’

3. Select ‘Add Promo Code’ at the bottom. Add the promo code for the vaccination centre you are travelling to/from (list at bottom of box)

4. Navigate to the rides home screen and enter the pick-up/drop-off location for yourself or the person you are booking for. Remember, the trip must start or end at one of the seven vaccination centres listed above.

5. Confirm your trip. The offer will be valid for one £15 trip per person. 

The promotion codes:

  • Robertson House, Stevenage: UberUKRH
  • Excel Centre (Nightingale), London: UberUKEX
  • Centre for Life, Newcastle: UberUKCL
  • Etihad Tennis and Football Centre, Manchester: UberUKET
  • Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey: UberUKED
  • Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol: UberUKAG
  • Millennium Point, Birmingham: UberUKMP

Uber will offer the free rides to and from seven vaccine centres – Robertson House, Stevenage, Excel Centre (Nightingale), London, Centre for Life, Newcastle, Etihad Tennis and Football Centre, Manchester, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, Millennium Point, Birmingham.

This includes trips in wheelchair-accessible Uber Access vehicles, as well as those in Uber Assist vehicles for riders who need help getting in and out of the car.

Jamie Heywood, Uber’s Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe said: ‘It’s vital that the most vulnerable people in our society are vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible, and we want to help remove any barriers that could prevent them from travelling safely to get their jab.’

To claim their free Uber ride, passengers must simply enter the correct promotion code for the mass-vaccination hub they are travelling to in the app ahead of booking their journey.

The promotion codes are:

  • Robertson House, Stevenage: UberUKRH
  • Excel Centre (Nightingale), London: UberUKEX
  • Centre for Life, Newcastle: UberUKCL
  • Etihad Tennis and Football Centre, Manchester: UberUKET
  • Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey: UberUKED
  • Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol: UberUKAG
  • Millennium Point, Birmingham: UberUKMP

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, described the initiative as ‘great’.

He said: ‘Our national effort to accelerate the vaccine rollout across the country is an essential part of defeating Covid-19 and getting this country back to normal.

To claim their free Uber ride, passengers must simply enter the correct promotion code for the mass-vaccination hub they are travelling to in the app ahead of booking their journey

To claim their free Uber ride, passengers must simply enter the correct promotion code for the mass-vaccination hub they are travelling to in the app ahead of booking their journey

‘It is great that Uber is doing their bit by covering free trips to the seven mass-vaccination centres.’

Uber has also teamed up with Age UK to identify areas within its network of local charities where free round trips can be covered by Uber.

Hannorah Lee, Director of Partnerships at Age UK, said: ‘This has been an extremely challenging time for millions of older people across the country – many have spent almost a year shielding and missing out on seeing their loved ones in a bid to reduce their risk.

‘We’re extremely grateful to Uber for giving free journeys to Age UK, so that where possible, we can support our volunteers to help older people get to their appointments, and so they can provide any extra assistance if required.

‘This will certainly help ensure that as many older people as possible are vaccinated.’

Uber’s new initiative comes shortly after the UK government announced that people in England aged 70 and over will begin to be offered the Covid-19 vaccine from today.

More than five million people will be invited to have the jab, marking a ‘significant milestone’ for the UK’s vaccination programme.

Uber and Lyft lobby for early vaccine access for drivers 

Uber and Lyft are asking the incoming Biden administration for the opportunity to play a larger part in the national coronavirus vaccine rollout.

The companies are offering to drive Americans to get their jabs for free – and are lobbying for their drivers to be given early access, reported The Wall Street Journal.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote in a letter to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris that she hopes ride-share employees will be included in the next wave of inoculations.

‘We are advocating for rideshare drivers and delivery people to receive early access vaccinations’ because they are essential workers, she wrote, according to the letter seen by CBS News

Uber and Lyft are asking the incoming Biden administration for the opportunity to play a larger part in the national coronavirus vaccine rollout

Uber and Lyft are asking the incoming Biden administration for the opportunity to play a larger part in the national coronavirus vaccine rollout