105,000 people in the Rochdale borough have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine - more drop-in clinics are running again this weekend and next week

Date published: 09 July 2021

More than 137,700 people in the Rochdale borough have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and of those, 105,093 people have also received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

There are a number of drop-in vaccination clinics running this weekend at the Phoenix Centre in Heywood and at Littleborough Sports Centre. More are running next week at Rochdale Infirmary, Number One Riverside, the Phoenix Centre and other locations across the borough (see below).

 

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Local vaccination programme

First doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are available at drop-in clinics along with second doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to those who had their first dose more than eight weeks ago.

On Saturday there is a drop-in vaccination clinic running at the Phoenix Centre in Heywood ​9am–2pm. This clinic will be offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine and second doses of the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca vaccines (for anyone who had their first jab over eight weeks ago) to people aged 18 or over registered with a GP in the borough of Rochdale.

On Sunday 11 July there is a drop-in vaccination clinic at ​Littleborough Sports Centre, ​9am–12noon. This clinic is offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine and second doses of the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca vaccines (for anyone who had their first jab over eight weeks ago) to people aged 18 or over registered with a GP in the borough of Rochdale.

Next week, drop-in sessions are being held at Rochdale Infirmary, Number One Riverside, the Phoenix Centre in Heywood and the mobile unit is visiting different locations.

Details of all vaccination clinics can be found at:

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

 

 

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: "The infection rate across the borough for week ending 3 July was 514 cases per 100,000 people; this is an increasingly serious situation whose effects are being felt across many areas, including local service delivery.

"Our rate is now the fourth highest in Greater Manchester and still in the top 20 nationally.

"For people aged over 60 the rate has increased to 121 cases per 100,000 people which is the eleventh worst in the country. Only a couple of months ago the rate for this age group was as low as 10 cases per 100,000 people.

"As we move towards the removal of all restrictions, it is likely we will continue to see cases numbers and hospitalisations increase. In fact, we are already starting to see a disproportionate growth among young men which has been linked to the increased social mixing that has been inspired by the Euro 2020 competition.

"There were no deaths reported in the latest set of figures but we are aware that other areas that saw their infection rates increase before us have, very sadly, started to see these increase."

On the vaccination programme, he said: "We are maintaining progress towards having 85% of our adult population vaccinated by the end of this month. The additional walk-in clinics and mobile unit are helping to reach more people and we are still attracting some who could have already been vaccinated a lot sooner. In Heywood this week, for example, the majority of people who visited the mobile unit were people aged over 50 presenting for their first dose."

On the situation in hospitals, he said: "The number of Covid patients in hospital is increasing and there are now 26 people in intensive care beds and 71 in other wards across the north east Manchester hospitals. Patients are younger than in previous periods of the pandemic and are being discharged sooner.

"The biggest issue for hospitals at the moment is the absence of staff who are required to isolate or stay at home to look after children that have been sent home from schools."

"School attendance across the borough was 9% lower than the England average last week when we saw a 23% increase in the number of children isolating. There were 3,807 children isolating and schools and parents are facing significant pressures in dealing with the situation. The situation may be helped by the fact that term has already ended for pupils in year 11.

"The schools ‘bubble’ system is expected to ‪end on 19 July, and schools will no longer be responsible for the track and trace system but they must continue to have a plan in place to manage any outbreaks of the virus. In September only pupils that test positive will need to isolate rather than the often large numbers of other children they come into contact with."

 

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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 2 July is 492 cases per 100,000 people, an increase of 50% on the week before when the rate was 325 cases per 100,000.

 

 

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If you can't get to a drop-in vaccination session, 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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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 or attend one of the drop-in or drive-through clinics being held.

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 arefree 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 - 3pm
• Sat & Sun 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon to Fri 8am - 3pm
• Sat & Sun 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon to Fri 8am - 3pm (until Friday 9 July - then this site is closed)
• Sat & Sun 9am - 1pm

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

• Mon to Fri 8am - 3pm
• Sat & Sun 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