Covid vaccination centre to open in Littleborough on Wednesday

The borough’s fourth community vaccination centre is due to open at Littleborough Sports Centre on Calderbrook Road on Wednesday 20 January.

In line with national policy older people, those with health conditions, housebound residents and people who work in care homes and health care workers are being prioritised to receive their vaccination.

The vaccinations centre will operate between 8am and 8pm when vaccinations are taking place but it is strictly an appointment only service.

When it is your turn to receive the vaccine, you will be contacted by Rochdale Health Alliance or your GP surgery and invited to go for your appointment.

Eligible patients from Littleborough have been getting appointments at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre but the opening of this new venue means that vaccinations can start to take place at a location that may be more convenient.

Housebound patients will be contacted to arrange a home visit.

 

 

The Littleborough site follows on from the opening of the first three community sites at the Number One Riverside building in Rochdale town centre, Phoenix Centre in Heywood and Middleton Health Centre.

Clinically-trained staff will be providing the vaccinations at the leisure centre, in a safe environment and all the necessary instructions will be given to patients in the letter or telephone call inviting them to attend. You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine. You cannot just turn up at one of the vaccination service centres.

Councillor Daalat Ali, the council’s cabinet member for public health, said: “This fourth vaccination site allows our residents to have excellent access to covid vaccinations.

“If eligible residents have received a letter from the national NHS inviting them to the tennis centre at the Etihad stadium for a vaccination, they can ignore this letter if they wish and wait to be contacted by the local programme and have it closer to home.”  

Local GP, Dr Venk Mallya said: “It’s a momentous day for the Pennines [Littleborough, Milnrow & Newhey areas of Rochdale borough] and we are pleased that we can start to vaccinate residents in our community against this virus. Patients will be contacted and invited for vaccination – we would urge them not to contact their GP practice enquiring about vaccinations, as we will contact them.

“In the meantime we must all continue to follow the rules to protect our families, friends and communities: isolate and get a test at the first sign of any symptoms. Follow the Hands, Face, Space guidance – regularly wash your hands, wear a face covering and stay two metres apart from people who are not part of your household.”

The vaccination programme is being run by groups of GPs with the support of the council and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group.

People will be contacted to confirm their appointment and will be booked in for a second appointment 12 weeks later.

More information about the vaccine can be found here: rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine