Vaccination site confirmed

15 Jan 2021 02:26
Published by: Scott Callan

All GP practices in the Bolton area now have access to a local vaccination site as another location has been confirmed in Horwich.

Invitations to receive the vaccine at Horwich RMI Club, on Ramsbottom Road, will start in earnest, with vaccinations expected to take place from the middle of next week.

These arrangements will affect people aged 80 or over registered at Kildonan House Surgery and Pike View Medical Centre.

Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is delivering the Covid-19 vaccination programme in the borough on behalf of NHS England.

Each site has had to undergo rigorous checks by NHS England to ensure it is suitable, which is why the programme is being delivered in phases.

Local vaccination sites will operate alongside regional vaccination centres like the Tennis and Football Centre at the Etihad Campus in Manchester, pharmacy-led vaccination services, hospital hubs and in care homes.

Regional vaccination centres have been introduced by NHS England as an additional option for people who may not have yet received their invitation to attend a local venue.

Anyone receiving a letter has the option to attend the Etihad or wait for their local invitation. This will provide more choice for residents, and allow more people to be vaccinated quicker.

People in the next age group - those aged 75 and over - will be the next cohort to be contacted for their vaccination. Invitations are expected to be sent in Bolton as soon as next week.

Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Bolton, and clinical director of commissioning at the CCG, said: "With another site confirmed, we are making great progress with vaccinating our over 80s. Everyone is working extremely hard to ensure we vaccinate people in a safe and efficient way.

"We know that people remain eager to get the vaccine and we commend their enthusiasm. We'd like to reiterate the message that no one has been forgotten and that everyone in Bolton over the age of 80 will be invited to receive a vaccination at a local centre, unless they prefer to attend the vaccination centre at The Etihad Tennis Centre.

"It's fantastic that we are able to use places like the social club to enable us to expand our vaccination programme in the borough and offer protection to all our priority groups."

Invitations to receive the vaccine remain dependent on vaccine supply and delivery and people will be contacted when vaccine supplies are available.

Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine are being used in Bolton. Both vaccines require two doses. Due to national guidance, people will be offered their second dose of either vaccine approximately 12 weeks after their first.

The full list of vaccination sites in Bolton:
• Tonge Moor Health Centre - including people from Turton Primary Care Network (PCN)
• Lever Chambers Health Centre - including people from Rumworth PCN, Central PCN and Farnworth and Kearsley PCN
• Breightmet Health Centre - including people from Breightmet and Little Lever PCN
• Peter House Surgery - including people from Westhoughton PCN
• Waters Meeting Health Centre - including people from Halliwell PCN, plus those registered at Bolton Community Practice in Horwich
• Avondale Health Centre - including people from Chorley Roads PCN
• Horwich RMI - including people from Kildonan House Surgery and Pike View Medical Centre

You may be interested in