RESIDENTS in Warrington aged between 60 and 64 are set to be offered a coronavirus vaccine in the next week.
This comes as the number of vaccination doses administered in the borough is expected to surpass 60,000 by weekend.
People in the 60-64 age bracket – cohort seven of national priority list - will receive a letter inviting them to book an appointment.
The quickest and easiest way to arrange an appointment is via the national booking service, which offers appointments at local NHS vaccination centres.
Appointments will be available at local venues, including the Pharmacy 2U site at Centre Park’s Village Hotel and the Imaan Pharmacy site at Warrington Islamic Centre in Bewsey.
People aged 65 or over, who should have already been invited for a Covid-19 vaccination, are also being advised to use the national booking service to arrange their appointment if possible.
GP-led services in Warrington are also currently focusing on vaccinating people aged between 16 and 64 who are classed as clinically vulnerable.
Meanwhile, health and social care staff and carers continue to be prioritised by the vaccination programme being led by Warrington Hospital.
The aim of the national booking service is to offer as many options as possible for people to get vaccinated.
However, if you are unable to attend one of the sites available on the national booking system, you will still be able to have your vaccine from the local GP-led service and can wait to be contacted directly by your GP practice.
The national booking service is available online at nhs.uk/covidvaccination or by calling 119.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing said: “Now that the vaccination programme is well underway and we have a clear roadmap out of lockdown, we can finally start to feel cautiously optimistic about the coming months.
“The NHS is moving through the priority groups as quickly as possible, and I would urge everyone who receives an invitation letter to book their appointment as soon as they can.
“I recently received my first dose of the vaccine at a local vaccination site, which was very well-organised.
“I would like to thank all of the NHS staff and volunteers who are working hard to ensure the sites run smoothly – and the vaccine itself was quick and painless.”
Cllr McLaughlin also paid tribute to all residents for their continued efforts to bring coronavirus rates in Warrington down, but warned that now is not the time to relax.
This comes after it was confirmed that less than 100 patients are receiving care at Warrington Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 for the first time since October.
New coronavirus cases in Warrington are also at their lowest level since the start of September, with the town’s infection rate recorded as exactly 100 cases for every 100,000 residents, according to the latest data.
“We need everyone to continue to follow the current restrictions – stay at home, get tested if you have any coronavirus symptoms or if you are unable to work from home, and take up the vaccine when offered it,” Cllr McLaughlin continued.
“Even if you have had your first does of the vaccine, it still takes time before it is effective, and so you must continue to follow the rules.
READ> Covid-19 patient numbers at Warrington Hospital continue to fall
“Every day we do this is another step towards the restrictions being eased as planned over the coming months, and another day closer to getting things back to normal.”
Warrington’s director of public health, Thara Raj, added: “Having an effective vaccine is an important part of ending the pandemic.
“Through the vaccination programme, we can stop those who are most at-risk of serious illness from getting the virus, which will mean a reduction in hospital admissions and fewer deaths.”
Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap for the end of the current lockdown, Warrington’s schools are working tirelessly ahead of reopening on Monday.
It is likely all years will not be back in class until the end of next week, with a more phased approach favoured by some schools.
Testing of pupils for coronavirus will take place later this week before the Monday restart.
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