A Harrogate GP has praised the progress of the covid vaccination programme, but says it is important people continue to follow government guidance.

Dr Bruce Willoughby has worked as a GP in a number of Harrogate practices and now acts as the GP clinical lead for primary care and population health within NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

As the vaccine programme continues to be extended to younger people and coronavirus cases decrease, Dr Willoughby has said this should not be a sign for people to relax.

The CCG is urging local residents to keep staying two metres apart from people outside their household or bubble and only meet outdoors. It says that social distancing measures such as washing your hands for 20 seconds and wearing a face covering are still vital.

Dr Willoughby said:

“While we are making excellent progress with our vaccination programme, we know that we must remain vigilant to keep the virus at bay in our communities as we continue to protect as many people as possible.

“We know that a vaccine reduces your chance of catching covid by around two thirds. And in addition to all that, you’re up to half as likely to pass it on to somebody else that you live with.

“I know we are looking forward to greater easing in government restrictions but this is no time for complacency, we still need to keep the virus under control, while we take the steps, safely, back to normal life.”

Dr Willoughby also encouraged anyone who has been invited for their vaccine to book an appointment. You can do so here.

Read more:

• Harrogate couple launch appeal to buy oxygen equipment for covid patients in India
• No covid marshals employed in the Harrogate district

The current phase of the vaccine rollout means anyone aged 40 and over can book in for their jab.

Nearly 100,000 first doses of the covid vaccine have been delivered in the Harrogate district.

People hoping to receive a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in the Harrogate district may have to wait until June, a letter leaked to the Stray Ferret has revealed.

The Harrogate district had made good progress with the vaccination programme. According to the latest NHS England figures, more than 95,000 jabs have been given.

But as the national rollout focuses on people aged just over 40, it seems the NHS has cut vaccine supply to the Humber, Coast and Vale Integrated Care System, which oversees the vaccine programme in the Harrogate district.

A letter signed by Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and Beverley Geary, chief nurse at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and leaked to the Stray Ferret, revealed the supply problem. The letter says:

“We were informed earlier this week that there would be no first dose vaccination supply for the ICS until June.

“The situation is still developing and there may be some Pfizer vaccine available earlier in May. This is a huge disappointment to everyone who has worked on the vaccination programme in the ICS.

“We know you will all be concerned about the impact of this national supply issue on your own ability to continue to deliver the programme, the impact on patients as well as the reputational risk.”

The letter, dated April 22, was sent to senior health officials in the region as well as large scale vaccination sites and community pharmacies.

It says Humber, Coast and Vale ICS is “extremely concerned about the proposed national campaign for the vaccination programme due to start next week”, when the focus is likely to be on over 40s.

“We have expressed our surprise at such a disjointed approach at the national level and the impact that this will have on local areas managing patient expectations.”

Read more:

• More than 95,000 receive first covid vaccine in Harrogate district
• ‘Don’t waste our time’: Knaresborough vaccine centre hits out after 450 no-shows

The pharmacy-run vaccination centres in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge have not held a vaccine clinic since April 17 and because of supply problems do not have a date for the next one.

Since it opened at the beginning of the month, the Pateley Bridge centre has only been able to give 400 coronavirus jabs.

Samin Khan, who runs Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, told the Stray Ferret:

“We have only managed to hand out 400 vaccines since opening because we have not been given any coronavirus vaccines.

“Other places are getting a supply. The NHS is sending people out to York and Leeds when they want to get a jab in their local area.

“It seems like because the Harrogate district has done so well with the coronavirus vaccines that we have been penalised.”

Ms Bloor told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing today that first dose supply was “getting low.” She added:

“I think it is fair to say that throughout the vaccination programme there have been peaks and troughs in vaccine supply.

“It is a bit lumpy, some weeks we get more and some weeks we get less. At the moment, we are getting slightly less in terms of first doses than we have been previously.

“But, actually, what that means is we can really focus on getting people through for second doses because we have got that guaranteed second dose supply.

“We are also assured that we will still be on track to deliver first doses to all of those aged over 18 by July 31 in line with the government guidance.”

The new Pateley Bridge covid vaccination centre is set to be a vital lifeline to the people of Nidderdale.

The site at the Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall opened today and has the potential to vaccinate up to 400 people a day. The Stray Ferret visited to speak to some of the staff and volunteers, as well as those excited to receive their jab.

Pharmacist Samina Khan owns Pateley Bridge Pharmacy which is running the site. She said prior to the vaccine centre opening, her patients have had to travel to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate or Ripon Racecourse, which isn’t always easy.

She said:

“Most of our patients are elderly who’ve had to rely on public transport or Nidderdale Plus to take them. Some have had to use taxis which cost a £60 round trip, or asked children to come over to take them”.

‘A huge difference’

Her comments were echoed by Pateley Bridge GP Lewis Caplin who helped set up the site with Samina. He said he knows of two people who have avoided taking the vaccine because they didn’t want to travel a long distance.

From Pateley Bridge, it’s a 26 mile round trip to the Great Yorkshire Showground site.

He said:

“It’s made a huge difference for those people to walk around the corner and get their vaccine.”

Read more:

• Nidderdale minibus helps rural people get vaccines
• Knaresborough man buys famous Pateley Bridge sweet shop

The Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road

Andrew Cockroft is from the Nidderdale Plus community hub. He said over 100 local volunteers have risen to the challenge to help residents get vaccinated at Pateley Bridge as well as in Harrogate and Ripon.

He added:

“All the volunteers are keen to see centres open up that have less of a journey. What Samina has done with Lewis to set it up has been a lot of work. It’s terrific to see people come from around the corner to get their jabs.”

‘The best place on Earth’

Proud Nidderdale resident Phil White said “it means everything” to have a vaccination site near to his home in Dacre — and even walked the five miles in the sunshine to get his second jab.

He said:

“I’ve walked it here and it took two and a quarter hours too. It’s a bit of exercise in the beautiful weather and countryside and I’ve been well looked after here. It’s been superb. Nidderdale is the best place on Earth!”

No first doses of a covid vaccine will be given to the under-50s at the Great Yorkshire Showground in April.

The Spa Surgery in Harrogate posted on its Facebook page there was “reduced vaccine available nationally” and that no first doses will be given.

However, it added that those under-50 would start to be invited for appointments from May onwards depending on supply.

Meanwhile, all second doses will go ahead as normal at the showground.

Read more:

• More than half of Harrogate district population receive covid vaccine
• Great Yorkshire Showground can give 1,800 vaccines in a day
• North Yorkshire to focus on 47,000 over-50s yet to be vaccinated

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire CCG said:

“In North Yorkshire, a number of practices have now worked through all of their patients who are in the first nine priority groups, as identified by the JCVI.

“The NHS is continuing to support primary care networks to ensure available vaccine is deployed where it is needed in North Yorkshire so that by 15 April, everyone in cohorts 1-9 will have had the opportunity to have had the vaccine. We have been assured by Government there will be enough supply to meet this deadline.

“Anyone aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions who has previously turned down the offer of a vaccine but has now changed their mind, can still get vaccinated – they can book online or call 119.

“Supplies of second doses have been secured and will be available at the appropriate time for those who have previously received a first dose. It’s important people attend for their second dose, so they can get the maximum protection offered by the vaccine.”

Some GPs in North Yorkshire have said they will vaccinate people under-50 if there were any spare vaccines.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire CCG, said it would focus on as “maximum coverage as possible” for those who have not been vaccinated in the first nine priority groups.

Ms Bloor said the CCG wanted to improve the uptake for the first nine groups before moving onto the under-50s.

She added that the government had assured the CCG there would be enough supply to vaccinate those aged 18 to 49 by the end of July.

But, a letter from NHS England to GPs in March said there would be a “significant reduction in weekly supply” from March 29.

The letter said:

“The government’s Vaccines Task Force have now notified us that there will be a significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning in the week commencing 29 March, meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained.

“They now currently predict this will continue for a four-week period, as a result of reductions in national inbound vaccines supply.”

It comes as 92,293 first doses have been carried out in the Harrogate district, according to latest NHS England figures.

The figure represents more than half of the district’s overall population.

Across North Yorkshire, 410,000 people have had a first dose and 48,000 have had a second dose.

“Please be considerate of others who are desperately trying to get appointments in the area.”

Read more:

• More than half of Harrogate district population receive covid vaccine
• ‘Insult to injury’: Ripley dog groomer misses out on vital covid grant

More than half of the Harrogate district’s population has received the first dose of a covid vaccine.

NHS England figures show 82,118 people have been vaccinated in the district so far.

The number represents 51% of the district population, which is 160,533 according to latest Office for National Statistics data.

It comes as more than half of the UK adult population have received a first dose of a vaccine.

Read more:

• Nidderdale minibus helps rural people get vaccines
• Coronavirus vaccine centre to open in Pateley Bridge
• Great Yorkshire Showground can give 1,800 vaccines in a day

Earlier this week, Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, said health bosses had been assured by government that there would be enough supply to vaccinate all over-50s by April 15.

A letter from NHS England to hospital bosses across the country warned of a shortage of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine from next month.

Those over-50 and people with underlying health conditions are currently being invited to book a vaccine appointment.

The Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site has enough capacity to vaccinate 1,800 people per day.

The district also has vaccination centres in Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

Meanwhile, 14 further cases of covid have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,563.

A coronavirus vaccine centre is to open in Pateley Bridge next month with the capacity to provide up to 400 inoculations a day.

It will be the fourth vaccination site in the Harrogate district, following in the footsteps of the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, the racecourse at Ripon and the former Lidl in Knaresborough.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy is behind the plans to open at Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.

The pharmacy led site will use the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine because it is easy to store and transport.

Read more:

• Nidderdale minibus helps rural people get vaccines
• Knaresborough man buys famous Pateley Bridge sweet shop

Samina Khan, who runs Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, told the Stray Ferret that she hopes to be getting jabs in arms by April 6:

“We know that there is a need in rural areas. It took a bit of convincing but NHS England has now given us the go ahead.

“The hall is quite large. When we are up and running we will be able to vaccinate around 400 people a day.

“Pateley Bridge is a real community and it has taken a real community effort to organise.

“The church provided screens, the school provided a car park on weekends and the trustees of the hall has provided space.”

The pharmacy already has a team of medical professionals and volunteers on standby.

However, she asked for retired nurses and doctors who are interested in helping to reach out to Pateley Bridge Pharmacy. Call 01423 711329 if you are able to help.

Ms Khan said some people had complained to her pharmacy ab out having to pay up to £60 for travel to the other vaccine sites.

Chris Henderson, chairman of Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall trustees, said:

“We are delighted that the hall will be put to good use while it is closed for its usual activities.

“Thanks to generous government support, the hall is financially secure and essential maintenance and safety inspections had been carried out.

“It will enable the hall to open safely when allowed to do so.”

A total of 70,138 people in the Harrogate district have received their first coronavirus vaccine, according to NHS England figures today.

The data, which covers the period until today, reveals almost 6,000 vaccines have been given in the last week.

North Yorkshire’s health officials insisted yesterday the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and urged people to continue to come forward for their jabs when invited.

However, under-50s will now not be offered a vaccine during April due to supply problems.

Read more:

• Mobile covid tests launched in rural North Yorkshire
• North Yorkshire health chief: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe

Meanwhile, another 12 covid infections have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

The district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 39 cases per 100,000 people. The national average is 58, while the North Yorkshire rate is 48.

A senior NHS official in North Yorkshire today insisted “safety is the number one priority” in the coronavirus vaccine rollout after some European countries paused the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab amid concerns over blood clots.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer of NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said while some patients may be feeling uneasy about receiving the jab, regulators had been “absolutely clear” that it is safe as she urged everyone to take up the opportunity as soon as it arises.

Her bid to reassure the public comes after Germany, France, Italy and Spain joined the list of countries to suspend use of the vaccine while they seek further clarification on its safety.

Speaking at a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today, Ms Bloor said:

“We understand that this action may be concerning for some people around the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine but I want to reassure you safety is the number one priority for the NHS.

“The phenomenon of blood clots can occur naturally – they are not an uncommon thing.

“Over 12 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given across England and the number of blood clots that have been reported after having had the vaccine is not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally.”

The European Medicines Agency previously said there was “no indication” that the jab causes blood clots and is expected to release the final findings of an investigation on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the UK’s medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, has also said that evidence “does not suggest” the jab causes clots.

Ms Bloor added:

“Given this, the NHS will continue to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine and we would urge people to come forward when invited.

“This will give us the greatest chance of keeping the cases of covid at bay within communities and hospitals, and also allowing us to progress along those timings that have been outlined in our roadmap.”

Read more:

• Can Great Yorkshire Show and vaccine site take place together?
• Matt Hancock praises Harrogate’s rapid vaccine response

It was also announced today that more than 188,000 people in North Yorkshire have now received their first coronavirus jab and 13,000 their second.

More than 50,000 of those have been delivered at Harrogate’s mass vaccinations centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Those who are currently being called up for their vaccine include over 50s and those with underlying health conditions between 16 and 60-years-old.

Ms Bloor said the “fantastic” progress in working through the age groups meant North Yorkshire remained on track to meet the government’s target of vaccinating all over 50s by 15 April and every other adult by 31 July.

It comes as the number of people with covid in North Yorkshire’s hospitals has continued to fall with a drop from 129 last week to 96 today. Twenty three of those patients are in intensive care.

In the county’s main hospitals there are currently 13 patients in Harrogate, 25 in York and three in Scarborough.

The weekly rate of coronavirus infections is also continuing on a downward trend with the figure for North Yorkshire standing at 46 cases per 100,000 people and Harrogate 38.

These are both below the national average of 58.