Over 129,000 people in the Rochdale borough have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine

Date published: 27 August 2021

More than 144,400 people in the Rochdale borough have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and, of those, 129,211 people have also received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

 

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Vaccinations for 16-17 year olds and 12-15 year olds

Invitations to get a Covid vaccine are landing on the doormats of all 16 and 17 year olds in the North West in a further effort to boost take-up in this age group.

The JCVI updated guidance on 4 August so that all 16 and 17-year-olds could be offered one dose of the vaccine.

The National Booking Service (NBS) is currently open to anyone aged 18 or over, and to people within three months of their 18th birthday.

GPs are also inviting local at-risk children aged between 12 and 15 years old, who are clinically vulnerable to Covid or live with adults who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus, with 30,000 children in this age group nationally already protected.

Children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable to Covid will be contacted by the NHS and invited for their vaccine. Those who are eligible include those with Down’s syndrome, or undergoing many cancer treatments, have had organ or bone marrow transplants or who are on the learning disability register.

The Covid vaccine will also be offered to children aged 12 years and over who live with someone who is immunosuppressed, such as those receiving chemotherapy or who have had a transplant.
 

Read more: Children aged 12-15 who are at high risk of Covid-19 to be invited for Pfizer vaccinePublished: 27 August 2021

 

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In his weekly update to councillors, Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, revealed that the highest infection rate is affecting those aged 20-29.

He said: “The latest infection rate was 257 cases per 100,000 people, which is still very high but other areas of the UK, particularly those popular with tourists such as Devon, Cornwall and coastal areas of east Yorkshire, are seeing large increases. Our highest rates are in people aged between 20 and 29 but it is falling.”

Generally there is still a lot of pressure across the system, especially in health settings which are under immense strain.

Mr Rumbelow said: “Our GP surgeries are just about coping at present but they are only able to do so because of online consultations and telephone assessments.

“Without these things in place, it’s likely that the problems some people are experiencing in accessing the system would be much more severe and widespread.”

He continued: “We are also now seeing infections in older people that have been double vaccinated, which reinforces the importance of the vaccine booster programme.

“There are still staffing problems in our hospitals, which is being made worse by a reduction, for various reasons, in the number of foreign doctors travelling to the UK this year.

“Some clinicians and admin staff are self-isolating and practices are under pressure with some at risk of needing external support.”

Addressing adult social care, Mr Rumbelow continued: “Recruitment issues and isolation requirements are causing backlogs and there are increased waits for aids and adaptations due to capacity in the system.

“Those waiting on the lists have been contacted. We are still working on care home staff vaccinations ahead of the new law which means they must be vaccinated coming into effect on 11 November.

“Visiting professionals will also have to be vaccinated, including our staff, but family and friends will not; although they must still comply with testing regimes. At the moment there are very few outbreaks in care homes.”

Moving to children’s services and schools, Mr Rumbelow added: “New directives on schools are expected this week so we will be reviewing what this looks like.

“We are also promoting and ensuring looked after children have access to vaccinations. Like adult services, children’s services are also struggling to recruit social workers so work is being done to look at what can be done to address the issue.

“Children return to school soon so parents should be being contacted by schools about what arrangements will be in place.”

 

Booster vaccines

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) interim advice is that any potential Covid-19 booster programme should be offered in two stages from September 2021, starting with those most at risk from serious disease. The final advice could change from the interim advice as further data is analysed.

Mr Rumbelow said: “Work on the booster programme is continuing but the planning is hampered by a lack of certainty in a number of areas.

“These include who will be eligible and which vaccine will be given. Without these details being confirmed it’s not possible to put the necessary arrangements or resources in place so we hope that these will be confirmed soon.”

In Stage 1 of a potential booster vaccination programme for 2021 to 2022, the following groups should be offered a booster dose and the flu vaccine from September:

• adults aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed
• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 70 years or over
• adults aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable
• frontline health and social care workers

In Stage 2, the following groups should be offered a booster dose as soon as practicable after Stage 1, with equal emphasis on the flu vaccine where eligible:

• all adults aged 50 years and over
• all adults aged 16 to 49 years who are in an influenza or Covid-19 at-risk group
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

 

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Case numbers in the borough have fallen in the past seven days. The rate for the Rochdale borough for the week ending 20 August is 246 cases per 100,000 people, a decrease from the week before when the rate was 280 cases per 100,000.

 

 

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The NHS Covid vaccination programme is open to anyone aged 18 or over - appointments can be booked through the NHS booking service.

If it has been at least eight weeks since your first vaccination and you've not received your invite for your second vaccination, you can phone or email to book.

Residents who are registered with a GP in the borough (Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Rochdale), can book an appointment at a local vaccination clinic by calling 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or emailing hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net.

From Monday, 6 September 2021, first, second and booster vaccinations will be administered by appointment only at the following locations:

• One of the larger regional centres, which includes Rochdale Infirmary
• Your GP
• An approved pharmacy

Answers to key questions around the vaccination process and details of pop-up, drop-in and drive-through clinics can be found at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine

 

 

The local FAST test programme has four test sites across the borough.

Anyone who cannot work from home or comes into regular contact with the public is encouraged to take up this offer of new Find And Stop Transmission (FAST) testing to protect themselves, their loved ones, and other residents.

The FAST testing programme, which use lateral flow tests, aims to identify those who unknowingly have the virus as they have no symptoms – otherwise known as asymptomatic.

As part of the national roadmap out of restrictions, the government is asking the public to take-up twice weekly FAST testing. This is quick and easy to do and you will be playing your part in helping to stop the spread of the virus, while teams work on the vaccine rollout.

You can take part at your local FAST testing site or through community collect packs.
 

Read more: Covid-19 testing packs available across the boroughPublished: 21 April 2021

FAST tests are only for people showing no symptoms. You must not attend if you have any symptoms. Tests are free and there is no need to book you can simply turn up at one of the sites across the borough:

Rochdale – Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN

• Mon to Fri 8am - 1pm
• Sat, Sun and bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Heywood – York House Surgery, York Street, Heywood, OL10 4NN

• Mon to Fri 8am - 1pm
• Sat, Sun and bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Middleton – Bowlee Sports Centre, Windermere Road, Middleton, M24 4LA

• Mon & Weds 8am - 1pm (inc bank holiday Mondays)

Middleton – Alkrington Community Centre, Hardfield Road, Middleton M24 1TQ

• Mon 11am - 6pm 

Littleborough – Hare Hill Bowling Club, Townhouse Road Littleborough, OL15 9BG

• Mon to Fri 8am - 1pm
• Sat, Sun and bank holidays 9am - 1pm

If you have Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend one of the FAST test sites. You should book a test online or by phoning 101.

 

 

The borough has three local test centres:

• Rochdale - in the car park at Rochdale Leisure Centre, Entwisle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ
• Middleton - in the marquee on the Market Place Car Park next to Middleton Arena, Old Hall Street, Middleton M24 1AG
• Heywood - Heywood Civic Centre, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW

You must drive, walk or cycle to the site - do not use a taxi or public transport. If this is not possible, you'll need to order yourself a home test.

• www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test