‘We were told the vaccine was the way out’

A Harrogate man has spoken of his despair at being one of 1.7 million people told to shield again for another five weeks.

Scott Lambert, 35, has a rare autoimmune disease called behçets syndrome and is classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

He received an email from the government yesterday advising him to extend shielding from February 21 to March 31.

Mr Lambert told the Stray Ferret he was vaccinated three weeks ago at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground and, after spending much of last year shielding and all of this year, thought the end was in sight.

So to receive the news out of the blue yesterday was “beyond unfair”, he said, adding:

“We were told the vaccine was the way out of this. Yet a week before the review date we have been told it’s a further five weeks minimum.

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He said shielders were “the forgotten people in the pandemic” and he wanted to highlight their situation. He added:

“We have been locked away far more than many people over the coronavirus pandemic. It’s taking a huge strain on each and every one of us.

“Being a shielder isn’t lockdown. It’s next level lockdown. You’re constantly thinking of how transmission could occur and make you seriously ill. Yet an email is all the government felt was enough to put us through this for a further five weeks.

“We thought the vaccine was the way out. The government achieved the target of vaccinating all of the clinically extremely vulnerable and we thought we would be able to rejoin society in the new normal.”

Mr Lambert, who lives in Jennyfields, said the showground vaccination programme was well run. He added a Facebook group called Shielders Support had been extremely helpful to local shielders. But yesterday’s news came as a “shock to all”.

The email urged him to “stay at home as much as possible”, adding:

“Whilst the national lockdown has been effective and cases of covid are now falling, the levels of infection in the community remain high and the virus continues to pose a high risk to people across the country.

“The risk remains particularly high for those considered clinically extremely vulnerable. Therefore, the government strongly advises you to continue to follow the shielding measures that were introduced in January to help you protect yourself.”

Coronavirus clinic to open at Harrogate community centre

A coronavirus clinic will open in a Harrogate community centre next week and will be in place until January next year.

The Jennyfield Styan Community Centre in Grantley Drive will enable those with coronavirus or symptoms to see a GP face-to-face.

Currently, patients with covid-19 who need an in person appointment attend their own surgery.

While other surgeries have strict safety measures in place, doctors have been pushing for a dedicated site.

GPs and part-time doctors will begin seeing patients next week between 12pm and 6pm on Mondays to Fridays.

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Appointments will alternate between the two rooms, enabling a deep clean between each patient.

Patients will be asked to wait in their vehicle on arrival, wear a face covering and keep hands sanitised, before they are escorted to the appointment.

If the patient requires medication then they will get an electronic prescription sent directly to the patient’s usual pharmacy.

NHS North Yorkshire CCG and the Yorkshire Health Network secured the community centre from Harrogate Borough Council.

The CCG’s clinical chair, Dr Charles Parker, said:

“This additional capacity will be of enormous benefit to practices. It will help ensure surgeries can continue to meet the demands of a busy winter period.”

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Jennyfield Styan Community Centre plays a vital part of the community for so many, and now more than ever.

“I hope the NHS can make use of the facility and provide much needed GP appointments for those that so desperately need them.”

Stolen car crashed into wall in Jennyfields

A silver Vauxhall Astra crashed into a wall on Bramham Drive in Harrogate this morning after being stolen from a nearby home.

Burglars took the keys from a house on Columbine Grove and, after crashing, made off on foot.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating and asked anyone with doorbell or dashcam footage to email CIDHarrogate@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Officers have also issued advice to residents to double check their doors and windows are locked at night, keep car keys out of sight and reach, and to look out for neighbours and call 101 if anyone is acting suspiciously in the area. Burglaries in progress can be reported by calling 999. For more information about two-in-one burglaries, visit www.northyorkshirepolice.uk/2in1burglary.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Whilst burglaries of this nature are uncommon in North Yorkshire, taking just a few steps can make a big difference between your home being targeted or not.”

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