More than 96,000 people in the Rochdale borough have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine - more drop-in clinics are running again next week

Date published: 25 June 2021

More than 133,900 people in the Rochdale borough have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and of those, 96,256 people have also received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

There are about 24,000 people left to vaccinate before 21 July when Rochdale Borough Council is aiming to have vaccinated 85% of adults over 18. This means that from now until then about 4,000 people a week must be vaccinated.

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Local vaccination programme

There will be more pop-up and drop-in clinics for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines this coming week.

An AstraZeneca clinic will take place at Wardleworth Community Centre on Wednesday 30 June, whilst two clinics for Pfizer and AstraZeneca will take place at Heywood’s Phoenix Centre on Thursday 1 July and Friday 2 July.

There are also more Pfizer first dose sessions at Rochdale Infirmary next week (Tuesday 29 June - Friday 2 July) .

No appointment is necessary, people can just drop in at any time while the clinic is open.

The AstraZeneca clinics are for a first dose for residents aged 40 and over, or second dose if you had your first more than 8 weeks ago.

Pfizer clinics are for first doses only for residents aged 18 and over.

Details of all vaccination clinics can be found at:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchtype=text&searchvalue=vaccine

 

The council has also set up a mobile vaccination unit which will be at Smallbridge Health Centre on Tuesday 29 June and at the Golden Mosque in Rochdale on Thursday 8 July.
 

Read more: Mobile vaccine unit launchedPublished: 25 June 2021

 

 

In his weekly update, chief executive of Rochdale Council, Steve Rumbelow informed councillors that the local infection rate is still in the top 20 nationally, and is still increasing.

He said: “Our rate is still one of the 20 highest nationally but remains below the Greater Manchester average. The rate among people over 60-years-old has climbed to 79.9, which is now in the top 10 in the country.

“There are currently 20 people in intensive care units across Salford, Rochdale, Bury and Oldham hospital sites and there is still pressure from non-Covid demand. Urgent care centres are particularly hard hit with some patients waiting up to 15 hours for ambulance transfers.”

Mr Rumbelow noted that there is still an increase in demand across both adult care and children’s social care: “We are continuing to see an increase in demand for our services, which we are still trying to understand. In our care homes 90% of residents and almost 70% of staff have now had both doses of the vaccine. Almost 50% of domiciliary care staff have had two doses. Our work to maximise vaccine take up in partnership with our care providers is continuing.”

Following a national consultation, local care homes have been advised that the government is looking to instruct providers to only employ staff who have been vaccinated. This will require parliamentary legislation to amend existing regulations and, if approved, is likely to come into force from October. It will not include people with a medical exemption.

Mr Rumbelow continued: “The government has announced a further consultation, with a view to extending this proposal to other health professionals who visit care homes, for example NHS workers providing close personal care to residents. The government has also said it will consult on extending this proposal to NHS frontline staff.”

Moving onto schools, the chief executive said: “As you would expect with increasing infection rates, we are also seeing more cases in our nurseries and schools, which is leading to more children having to isolate and in a small number of cases, year groups or schools being temporarily closed.

“This week we have already had 110 positive cases in school age children which is above our previous highest weekly number of 100 cases. Numbers are much lower among school staff at nine but are rising slightly. All this means that attendance is now lower with 70% of secondary students and 84% of primary pupils in class.”

Concerns have been raised with Greater Manchester Police about students who have been sent home to isolate not doing so.

“We have followed this up in supporting schools with a letter to parents advising them of the possible consequences and risks of this. We have also advised parents of our planned return to school based LFT testing that will start on Monday to seek their support with this,” Mr Rumbelow confirmed.

This is the final week for businesses to claim the restart grant and the council expects 92% of its funding to be allocated. Details of the council’s new hospitality grant and how to apply are due to be released next week.

 

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Case numbers in the borough have risen in the past seven days. The rate for the Rochdale borough for the week ending 18 June is 240 cases per 100,000 people, up from 209 cases per 100,000 the week before.

 

 

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

If it has been at least 11 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 one of the four vaccination centres in the borough by calling 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or emailing hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net.

 

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Lifting lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (14 June) that the majority of current coronavirus restrictions will remain in place in England until at least 19 July.

It was previously hoped that England would move to stage four of the government's roadmap out of lockdown on 21 June, when venues and events would be allowed to operate without capacity limits and there would have been an end to limited home gatherings of six people, or two households.

But in a press conference, Mr Johnson said that England would stay under restrictions for a further four weeks, due to a rise in infection rates following the Delta variant of Covid-19, which is spreading rapidly.

He said that the four tests set out by government that needed to be met before proceeding to the next step of the roadmap had not been met.
 

Read more: PM announces that step four of reopening 'roadmap' will be delayed by at least 4 weeksPublished: 14 June 2021

 

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Where to be vaccinated?

The borough has four community vaccination centres in operation; in Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and Littleborough. These local sites are run by groups of GPs with the support of the council and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group. Vaccinations are also being administered at Rochdale Infirmary.

There are also 11 large scale vaccination centres and 38 pharmacy led sites across the North West that residents can book through the national booking service online or over the phone.

The national booking system can not be used to book in at any of the local vaccination hubs within the borough. If it is not convenient for you to travel out of the borough for a vaccination, you can opt to wait to be invited to attend one of the local vaccination centres in the Rochdale borough instead.

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. If you’re not registered with a GP, you will need to register with one.

You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine. You cannot just turn up at one of the vaccination service centres.

Answers to key questions around the vaccination process 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 Thurs 9am - 5pm
• Fri 10am - 6pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon 10am - 6pm
• Tues to Fri 9am - 5pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon to Fri 8am - 4pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon to Fri 8am - 4pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Every Monday (except Easter Monday) at Alkrington Community Centre, Hardfield Rd, Middleton, M24 1TQ – Open 11am to 6pm.

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