‘Really good progress’ as vaccine reaches 175,000 people

Local leaders of the coronavirus response have praised the progress made on vaccinations after North Yorkshire and York reached 175,000.

That number is just for the first doses. Some people have already had their second dose in our area.

It also comes as the vaccination teams expect to beat the government’s target to offer a vaccine to the over 70s this weekend, rather than next week.

Instead the vaccination teams will start to hand out the jab to the next cohort of those over 65-years-old from next week.

Read more:

While some have already had their second jabs they will be rolled out more widely in March, it was revealed in a coronavirus press briefing today.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire CCG, told journalists:

“We are making really good progress with the vaccine. We have administered 175,000 first doses so far and some have had their second dose already.

“Massive thanks goes to the team behind the vaccination centres.

“We are confident that we will have offered all over 70s a vaccine by this weekend. If you have not had contact or you refused the vaccine and have now changed your mind then please get in touch.”

Those who are eligible for the vaccine can book an appointment through the national booking system at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

Those who cannot book online can call a free 119 telephone number, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. The national system allows patients to pick a convenient location and time.

Woman gets first covid vaccine at Ripon racecourse

A 73-year-old woman became the first person to be inoculated at Ripon’s new vaccination centre yesterday.

Snow delayed the opening until 1.30pm when a steady stream of people began to arrive.

The first was Maureen Lambden, from Ripon, who described the experience as “fantastic”. She said she was “very, very grateful” to receive the vaccine.

The centre is being staffed by doctors and nurses from local GP surgeries.

Volunteer marshals, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the racecourse’s own team are also on site helping.

Ripon’s testing centre has the capacity to vaccinate between 500 and 600 people at the racecourse daily.

It is thought the centre will open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but a press briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the organisation that represents agencies leading the county’s response to covid, heard opening times will depend on vaccine supply.

Dr Richard Fletcher, from Dr Ingram and Partners in Ripon and clinical director of Ripon and Masham Primary Care Network, said:

“We’re grateful to Ripon racecourse for stepping forward to offer their site for this, as it solves many of the problems presented by other locations.

“It is another significant step in increasing coverage in the region.”

Read more:

 

WATCH: Harrogate vaccine team ‘deserve big round of applause’

Two Harrogate district residents who have recently been vaccinated have heaped praise on the team behind the local vaccination centre.

David Ridgway and David Hill got their coronavirus jabs at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate this month.

Both residents contacted the Stray Ferret with the hope that their experiences will encourage anyone who is apprehensive.

Mr Ridgway, who lives in Pateley Bridge with his wife, said over a video call (above):

“They deserve a big round of applause. For anybody who is maybe a little bit apprehensive about going, don’t worry at all.

“It’s a very easy and relaxed experience with plenty of happy, smiling faces.”

Read more:

Mr Hill, who lives in Harrogate, also told the Stray Ferret:

“Other than a sore arm for a couple of days I had no side effects other than mentally feeling ‘over the moon’!

“The whole process was brilliantly organised so much so I told our MP Andrew Jones it had made me feel proud to be British.

“I also rang my GP surgery telling them the same story and they were pleased to receive the call.”

Harrogate district on track to achieve February 15 vaccine deadline

Health leaders in North Yorkshire said today they were confident of having enough covid vaccine to inoculate all four top priority groups by February 15.

Concerns have been raised about the supply of vaccine to the region, with some reports saying it may be reduced to let other parts of the country catch up.

But officials at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said they have been assured by government supply will be in place to meet next month’s target for the most vulnerable groups.

The four priority groups include residents and staff in care homes, over 80s and frontline health workers, over 75s, over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing that supply does vary from week to week but officials were confident of meeting government targets.

She said:

“The government has assured us that there is supply in place. We have plans in place across North Yorkshire and York to meet those targets by February 15.

“The amount we get from week-to-week does vary. But what I would say is that this is not just a North Yorkshire vaccination campaign, this is a national campaign to target the most vulnerable.”

Health bosses confirmed the vaccine has been offered to all care home workers and residents in the region.

Read more:

However, some homes have had to defer inoculations due to outbreaks of covid among residents and staff.

Ms Bloor said:

“We cannot vaccinate people who are currently poorly with covid or the period immediately after they have had covid.

“Where these is an outbreak, the vaccination will be deferred in that home.”

Officials confirmed today that 126,163 vaccinations have been carried out across North Yorkshire and York.

Of that number, 107,752 have received a vaccine at a local vaccination site, such as the Great Yorkshire Showground. A further 18,411 have been vaccinated in hospital.

Meanwhile, a new vaccination site will be opened at Ripon racecourse next week.

The site will be the latest centre to serve the Harrogate district, alongside the Great Yorkshire Showground, Elland Road in Leeds and Askham Bar in York.

Harrogate district vaccine sites shrouded in secrecy

Health bosses in North Yorkshire have refused to reveal the locations of new vaccination centres that are due to open in the next week.

The vaccine programme is rolling out nationally and it was revealed today that eight more sites are due to go live in North Yorkshire in the next week.

The Stray Ferret reported this week the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate will be one of the vaccine centres.

However, that information was released on social media by GP practices who are involved in the operation and were seeking volunteers to help direct visitors in the car park.

The people in overall charge of public health in the county are steadfastly refusing to reveal the sites, even though they are due to open in days and people are keen to know where they will have to go, partly so they can plan transport.

Read more:

Amanda Bloor, the accountable officer for the North Yorkshire CCG, said at a coronavirus press briefing this morning:

“I do know that a number of you have been asking for confirmation for the locations of the sites but we have been strongly discouraged from sharing this information.

“It is really important that these sites are able to operate smoothly and that we protect patient and staff confidentiality.”

This stance may raise some eyebrows, particularly as the locations of the coronavirus testing sites have never been kept secret and have been widely promoted.

The Stray Ferret understands fears over anti-vaccine protesters may be partly behind the decision to keep the sites out of the public eye.

Picture credit: Marco Verch/Flickr.

North Yorkshire GPs begin delivering covid vaccine

North Yorkshire GP practices administered their first covid vaccines today.

A handful of practices are believed to have begun the process, although none from the Harrogate district are believed to have done so yet.

The district is still awaiting news of the first person to be vaccinated.

The closest hospital to have administered the vaccine so far is Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Now GPs are joining the mass vaccination effort.

The Stray Ferret revealed today the Great Yorkshire Showground will be used as a vaccination site from next week.

Local vaccination services, which are based on Primary Care Network groupings, will be delivering the vaccine from all types of venues, from GP practices and health centres, to sports halls and community venues.

Dr Charles Parker, clinical chair of NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys medicines for the county, said:

“This is a significant milestone in the vaccination programme, but just the start of a process that will likely take several months.

“It’s been a successful first day, with patients commenting on how well organised clinics have been.”

The NHS is asking patients not to contact their GP practices directly for a vaccine appointment.

Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire CCG accountable officer, said:

“We understand patients’ enthusiasm to have the covid vaccine but it’s important those at most risk from coronavirus are vaccinated first.

“Please do not contact your local GP practice or local hospital to ask for an appointment for a vaccination and please do not turn up at your surgery or hospital – the NHS will proactively contact individuals as part of the vaccination programme and nobody will miss out.”

Have you had the covid vaccine? Or have you been offered a vaccination appointment? If you’re happy to tell us about your experiences please get in touch via email on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk/ 

Read more:

 

Harrogate researcher finds two-thirds will take vaccine

A poll conducted by researchers in Harrogate has found that two-thirds of people will take the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available.

The YourPoll survey found 67% said they would take the vaccine and 26% said they would not. The remaining seven per cent were undecided.

Of those who said no, 15% thought coronavirus was a hoax. The rest of the responses highlighted safety concerns and the need for further testing.

The snap poll of a random sample of 439 UK people was conducted in the three days prior to the first coronavirus vaccine on December 8.

Priority groups in the Harrogate district are expected to start receiving the jab this week, although details have not yet been confirmed.

Read more:

Neil Addley, managing director of YourPoll and its parent company Judge Service, said:

“There has been a lot of debate about whether people would be willing to take the new vaccine.

“Our poll was designed to show the true feelings of ordinary members of the public, rather than those who shout loudest on social and traditional media.

“It will be interesting to see whether those results are reflected in the real take-up numbers.”

NHS worker becomes first to receive covid vaccine in Leeds

An 80-year-old NHS healthcare worker has become the first person to be administered a coronavirus vaccine at the closest hospital to the Harrogate district to receive the vaccine.

Sylvia Harris, who joined Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust when she was 26, received the jab this lunchtime at St James’s University Hospital just outside the city centre.

There is still no news on when people in the Harrogate district will be offered the vaccine.

Ms Harris, a ward housekeeper who is currently shielding at home, said:

“I miss all the people I work with. I’m so glad I’ve got it done.”

Fifty hospitals across the country have embarked on the biggest vaccination programme in British history. Each hospital received a batch of 975 doses.

On Saturday the NHS announced that a small number of GP practices will begin giving vaccines from December 14th.

Read more:

Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother, was the first person in the country to receive the jab at University Hospital Coventry this morning.

This lunchtime Sylvia Harris, 80-yr-old ward housekeeper, was the first of our colleagues to be vaccinated. Sylvia was 26 when she first joined LTHT. Currently shielding at home, she said; “I miss all the people I work with. I’m so glad I’ve got it done.” #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/I3pR6qjllA

— Leeds Teaching Hospitals (@LeedsHospitals) December 8, 2020

North Yorkshire still awaits the green light to offer appointments.

The Stray Ferret contacted Yorkshire Health Network, which represents 17 GP practices in Harrogate, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to ask if any residents in the district had been offered the vaccine, but has yet to receive a reply.

An update is expected at a press briefing tomorrow of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies.

Harrogate and District Community Action is set to offer drivers to transport people to vaccination appointments.

District GPs gearing up for covid vaccine in coming weeks

The national rollout will begin on Tuesday with GP-led primary care networks getting ready to deliver the coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks.

Those over 80 and care home workers from across the district will be some of the first to be vaccinated during the first wave of the programme.

The NHS has said from December 14, a small number of GP-led primary-care networks, groups of practices, will begin delivering the jab. More practices will join the effort in the coming weeks and months.

A list released today has confirmed Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as the closest hub to the district delivering the Pfizer vaccine.

More hospitals are set to be added to the list in the coming weeks as the vaccination scheme ramps up. This will be the biggest immunisation programme in history.

NHS staff are working through the weekend to prepare for the launch of the programme with all vaccines said to be landing at the listed hospitals by Monday.

Hospitals will soon begin to invite those over 80 in for vaccinations and work with care homes to book their staff in.

NHS workers who are at higher risk will also be included in the first group.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, said ““I urge everybody to play their part to suppress this virus”.

Read more:

The Pfizer vaccine is delivered with an injection in to the shoulder to be followed up by a booster after 21 days.

The vaccine needs to be stored at -70C, meaning the 50 sites chosen will have appropriate storage facilities.

 

Harrogate district ready for coronavirus vaccine rollout

Health bosses for the Harrogate district have welcomed news of a coronavirus vaccine and say they are ready to roll it out locally.

The UK is the first western nation to approve a vaccine, which was developed by Pfizer-Biontech and is up to 95% effective.

It poses a major logistical challenge, not only because of the sheer numbers that need the vaccine but also as it needs to be kept at minus 70 degrees Centigrade.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for the three North Yorkshire clinical commissioning groups, which commission health products, said at a coronavirus press briefing this morning:

“We are working across the system and planning in real time to take stock of the vaccine as it become available next week.

“I think we should be optimistic and are right to be delighted. We will work through the plans that we have put in place over the last few weeks.

“There are a lot of logistics around it in terms of moving the vaccine around, getting it where it needs to be and then getting people in the right place.”

The briefing did not provide details of how the programme would be administered in the district but the first vaccines are likely to be injected in the main hospitals before Nightingale hospitals and GPs also get involved.

Care homes residents and care home staff are top of the list, followed by people aged over 80 and other healthcare staff.

A total of 800,000 doses are expected to be distributed next week but it is unclear how many will be awarded to each local area.

Read more:

Ms Bloor spoke at a weekly media briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of organisations that tackle emergencies in the county.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine after a process known as a “rolling review”.

Scientists reviewed the data as it became available in order to approve it as soon as possible.

Dr June Raine, chief executive at the MHRA, said:

“Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. They save millions of lives worldwide.”