Residents getting their vaccine are exempt from Birmingham’s CAZ

Birmingham residents receiving their vaccine are exempt from the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charge.  

The CAZ, which came into operation on June 1, charges drivers of the most polluting cars £8 to enter the city centre.

However, under a new scheme, visitors who drive a non-compliant vehicle to attend a Covid vaccine appointment at Millennium Point, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Bath Row Medical Practice and Badger Medical Centre can receive a voucher which exempts them from the daily charge.

The vouchers provide residents with a code for a duration of a single Clean Air Zone payment day period (midnight to midnight) and voucher recipients will need to input the code on the Brum Breathes website which will then give them a 24-hour exemption for that period.

A voucher will only be required for vehicles that do not meet the emission standards. Vouchers can be redeemed 6 days in advance of a visit, the day of a visit, or 6 days after.

A new voucher will be required each day so any drivers who regularly attend the medical centres and hospitals will be able to get a voucher each day they visit. The vouchers will be available to collect from reception and must be redeemed online.

Cllr Paulette Hamilton, cabinet member for health and social care said: ‘It is so important people get vaccinated and the council is working with NHS colleagues and other partners to try to increase uptake, especially in those areas of the city where uptake is low but case rates are higher than elsewhere.

‘While we want to encourage people to use alternatives to driving when they can, we know it is difficult for some so it is absolutely right that we make exemptions for non-compliant vehicles for people getting vaccinated. So please do attend these centres if you can and get your CAZ voucher if you qualify.’