Huge response to extra vaccination clinics as 5,000 more get their first covid jabs

More than 5,000 residents from across the borough of Rochdale received their first Covid-19 vaccination jab over the weekend at new vaccination clinics put in place to help stop the spread of new variants of the disease.

Extra clinics were put in place as part of the drive to increase vaccination take-up and stop the spread of new Covid-19 variants.

A total of 5,328 people attended the clinics at Bowlee Park School, Rochdale Infirmary, Kashmir Youth Project, Wardleworth Community Centre and the borough’s first-ever drive-through vaccination site at Rochdale Football Club.

The sheer number of people turning up to the drive-through site on Saturday did cause some disruption to traffic in the area and there were reports of jams being caused back to Manchester Road but the vaccination team and volunteers worked hard to keep vehicles moving through the site as quickly as possible.

 

 

Thousands of people in the highest priority groups were encouraged to come forward for their jab, to help protect them from the new variants that are spreading in some areas. Anyone living in the borough, aged 18 or over was also able to attend the pop-up clinics for a first vaccination.

In a further boost, more than 2,000 second doses were also administered over the weekend, which means that over 120,000 residents have now received their first vaccine and 70,000 have had both doses.

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council, said: “I am so proud of the response of our residents, who answered the call and turned out in their thousands to receive a jab. So many people worked tirelessly to seamlessly deliver the vaccinations, to protect the community and help stop the spread of the virus. As leader, I would like to thank everyone who played their part in this team effort, including all the clinicians, health teams, the volunteers, council staff and members of the public. Everyone went the extra mile to deliver for the borough. Once again, it showed our borough at its very best.”

 

 

Andrea Fallon, the council’s director of public health said: “The clinics were an overwhelming success, with thousands of residents taking up the offer to have their first jab. The figures speak for themselves. Our messages are really hitting home to people. The more people we vaccinate, the safer it is for our family, friends and the community. It is absolutely vital that anyone eligible for their first jab comes forward, but also that people take up the offer of their second dose."

She added: "The evidence overwhelmingly shows how important that second jab is to protect us from new variants. We are now closing in on 200,000 jabs administered in our borough, which is an incredible and heartening figure. Let’s keep the momentum going in the coming days and weeks.”

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No further dates for pop-up vaccination clinics have been announced but people aged 32 and over are now being invited for a jab by the NHS Covid vaccination programme - appointments can be booked through the NHS booking service.

Residents in the Rochdale borough in priority groups one to nine, which includes everyone aged 50 and over, who have not yet had their first dose of a vaccine can phone or email to book in at one of the local vaccination centres.

Ring 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or email hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net. Priority groups one to nine also includes those who have been advised to shield by the government (the clinically extremely vulnerable), people over 16 with long term conditions, carers and health and social care workers who are registered with a GP in the borough (Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Rochdale).

More information is available on the Coronavirus section of the council web site: www.rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine