Covid: How many people have been vaccinated in your area?

Figures for the number of people who have had the first dose of a covid vaccine across the Harrogate district have been revealed for the first time.

NHS England has started to publish the data, which shows a breakdown of the number vaccinated by age and area.

The latest figures, which cover inoculations to February 21, reveal 48,753 people have received their first dose in the district – 30% of the population.

Harrogate West and Pannal has recorded the highest take-up, with 3,721 receiving a vaccine.

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The lowest number so far is 1,701 in Masham, Kirby Malzeard and North Stainley.

Find out how many people have had a vaccine in your area below.

Masham, Kirby Malzeard and North Stainley

Total: 1,701
Population: 5,494

Ripon North and West

Total: 1,770
Population: 6,151

Disforth, Baldersby and Markington

Total: 1,850
Population: 6,419

Ripon South and East

Total: 3,189
Population: 10,253

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground site helping with the vaccination effort.

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground site helping with the vaccination effort.

Boroughbridge and Marton-Cum-Grafton

Total: 2,255
Population: 6,610

Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley

Total: 1,883
Population: 6,057

Knaresborough North

Total: 2,442
Population: 7,078

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite

Total: 1,781
Population: 6,960

Knaresborough Central

Total: 2,354
Population: 6,937

Bilton

Total: 2,843
Population: 9,029

Saltergate

Total: 1,852
Population: 7,489

Nurse holds up covid vaccine at Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Nurse holds up covid vaccine at Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Knaresborough South and Follifoot

Total: 2,330
Population: 5,839

Harrogate East

Total: 2,433
Population: 8,980

Starbeck

Total: 2,936
Population: 9,292

Central Harrogate

Total: 2,426
Population: 9,775

Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith

Total: 2,605
Population: 9,724

Hookstone

Total: 2,656
Population: 8,421

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Menwith, Beckwithshaw and Denton Moor

Total: 1,910
Population: 5,959

Stray

Total: 2,283
Population: 7,727

Harrogate West and Pannal

Total: 3,271
Population: 10,740

Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby

Total: 1,963
Population: 5,897

Knaresborough vaccine centre opens at former supermarket

Knaresborough’s vaccine centre opened in the car park of a former supermarket today.

It is the first pharmacy-led site in the Harrogate district, which also has vaccine centres in Harrogate and Ripon.

This latest centre, which is run by Knaresborough-based Homecare Pharmacy Services, is made up of two modular units at the old Lidl on York Road, Knaresborough.

It can administer up to 1,200 jabs a day, depending on supply.

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The centre has the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, as it is easier to store.

Sarah Bennington, who was amongst the first through the doors, told the Stray Ferret after her jab:

“I feel a bit safer now, it has been a long wait. I would tell anyone who is a bit hesitant to go for it.

“The jab didn’t hurt at all.”

Jason Baskind, of Homecare Pharmacy Services, told the Stray Ferret:

“We have had our lives on hold for a long time now; this is absolutely saving lives.

“Just to be involved in getting people back on their feet again, I feel honoured to be part of it.”

48,000 people have covid vaccine in Harrogate district

More than 48,000 people have had the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the Harrogate district.

NHS England has started to publish local data on the amount of people who have been vaccinated across the country.

According to the figures, 48,753 first doses have been given in the district so far.

The number includes:

It comes as a vaccination site is due to open in Knaresborough today at the town’s former Lidl supermarket.

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The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said this week that it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

Ms Bloor added that the county is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The new centre will mean the district will have vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret, Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, said that the Great Yorkshire Showground site was able to carry out up to 1,800 vaccinations a day.

Harrogate district vaccine boost as over 50s prepare for jab

The Harrogate district is to receive a vaccine boost this week, as inoculations are set to be rolled out to the over 50s.

A vaccination site in Knaresborough, which will be able to administer jabs to 1,000 people a week, is due to open in the town’s former Lidl on Saturday.

It means the district, which now has vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said today it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

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Speaking at a media briefing today. Ms Bloor said the Knaresborough site would administer 800 vaccines next week and had the capacity to give up to 1,000 jabs per week. She added:

“This is just part of the wider rollout across the country. I think it is likely other community pharmacies will start to come on stream.

“As of yesterday, North Yorkshire and York reached 249,000 first doses of the vaccines. So it’s significant progress and the teams are doing a fantastic job.

“We have moved further down the priority list, so we are working on the over 65s. There’s no need to contact your GP. You will be contacted directly.”

‘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.”

Tears of relief at Harrogate vaccination site

People have been left relieved, in tears and very emotional after receiving their first vaccinations at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Dr Chris Preece, one of the GPs that helped to set up the site, told the Stray Ferret that some were left “very emotional” in the early days of the site.

It comes after health bosses confirmed this week that 175,000 first doses of the vaccine have been carried out across North Yorkshire and York so far.

Vaccinations are expected to move onto those over 65-years-old from next week.

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For those groups who were among the first to get their vaccines, Dr Preece said it was an emotional experience.

He said that for some, the staff and the volunteers were the first people they had seen “in months”.

Dr Preece said:

“It’s been really positive and really nice, from our point of view.

“The first couple of weeks especially was very emotional for some people. We have had tears and things like that as people came into the site.

“For a lot of people who come here, particularly in the first couple of cohorts, it’s the first time they’ve left their house for months and months.

“It’s been really emotional for a lot of those people who are coming in.”

Dr Preece said that emotion has been reflected in those working and volunteering at the site too.

He added: 

“There’s a tangible feeling that we’re doing something important here.”

Anne from Harrogate was among the first to be vaccinated at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Anne from Harrogate was among the first to be vaccinated at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Among the first to get their vaccine at the showground was 83-year-old Anne, who thanked the health service and hoped it would make “her feel safe and will be the start of the end of isolation”.

Others marked their vaccines in line with special occasions.

Chris and Joan Jackson, aged 81 and 80, went to the showground a week after their 60th wedding anniversary.

At the time, Chris told the Stray Ferret:

“It was a very easy process and we were done in 45 minutes. It was managed quite well.

“It was no different to the flu jab.”

The showground is set to carry on offering first doses to the remaining cohorts, as well as the second doses to those that have had their first jab and completed the 12-week wait.

Health bosses have urged any of those over-70 who have not been offered the vaccine to contact the NHS to book an appointment.

Over 70s in Harrogate district urged to contact NHS for covid vaccine

Over 70s in the Harrogate District who have not been invited for their covid vaccination are being urged to come forward and arrange an appointment.

It comes as the health service is aiming to vaccinate all those in the top four priority groups by February 15.

North Yorkshire health officials have previously said that they were confident of achieving the target.

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

“Healthcare colleagues across North Yorkshire and York and in the wider Humber, Coast and Vale area have been doing a fantastic job to vaccinate people in the first four priority groups, but we want to ensure that all those who are eligible, have been offered the jab.

“We know that people over 70 and those on the shielded patient list are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. It’s important they come forward if they haven’t had their vaccine yet.

“I urge everyone to check with their parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbours and friends who are 70 years old and over if they have been vaccinated. If they haven’t had the vaccine yet, please help them book an appointment as soon as possible. 

“If you have previously turned down the opportunity to get the vaccine but have changed your mind, please also come forward now. We are determined that nobody should be left behind.

“The vaccine is safe, simple, and will offer you and those around you crucial protection against this virus.”

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.

Health bosses said those who receive a letter from the NHS to book with the national system, but already have an appointment booked with their local GP practice, should ignore the letter and keep the existing appointment.

Vaccinations are currently being offered at the Yorkshire Events Centre, Askham Bar in York and at Elland Road in Leeds.

Snow fears close Harrogate and Ripon vaccination sites tomorrow

Tomorrow morning’s vaccinations at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon racecourse have been postponed due to the snow forecast.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said today people with appointments scheduled between 8am and 12.45pm will be contacted and booked in at the next available time.

However, appointments due for tomorrow afternoon are still due to go ahead as planned.

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The Ripon site is due to open this week.

Health bosses said the decision was taken in the interests of patient safety.

A statement from the CCG said:

“GP practices in the Harrogate district are currently in the process of contacting all affected patients directly and will be booking those patients in to the next available clinics.”

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is currently in place for the district between 10pm tonight and 11.59pm tomorrow, according to the Met Office.

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.”

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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.”

52,500 clinically vulnerable people vaccinated in North Yorkshire, says Harrogate MP

52,500 people in the highest priority groups have received a covid vaccine in York and North Yorkshire, according to Harrogate’s MP.

In an e-mail to constituents, Andrew Jones said a further 12,000 vaccinations had also been carried out in hospitals to frontline staff.

Mr Jones said the figures were correct as of Monday this week.

It comes as health bosses said all care home residents and staff in the county would be vaccinated by the end of this week.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a North Yorkshire Resilience Forum meeting earlier this week:

“I am pleased to say that thanks to the tremendous effort from all of our colleagues delivering the vaccination programme, we are on course to deliver vaccination to all care home residents and staff by the end of this week.”

Ms Bloor added that officials were making “good progress” towards vaccinating all healthcare workers by the end of the month as well as the February 15 target set by the government for all priority groups.

Vaccinations in the Harrogate district are being administered at the Great Yorkshire Showground. However, a mass vaccination hub opened on Monday in York, which offers jabs to those within a 45 minute distance.

Health bosses announced a vaccination site will be opened in Ripon, but details on its location have yet to be confirmed.

Officials have also said people in the district can wait for an invite to the Great Yorkshire Showground instead of travelling to York.

MP hits out at covid vaccine supply reports

Mr Jones also hit out at reports that the supply of coronavirus vaccines to Yorkshire will be halved next week.

In his email, he addressed “covid-19 fake news” and went on to say a story regarding vaccine supply “was wrong”.

It follows reports in the Health Service Journal that the North East and Yorkshire will see its supply halved next week because it is ahead of other regions in vaccinating its eligible population.

The HSJ reported that the region is set to see does available to GP-led sites down by 200,000 compared to this week.

Mr Jones has said reports of the halve in supply are “wrong in terms of numbers and trend”.

He said:

“Reports that the number of vaccines supplied to our region are being halved are just wrong. 

“I have checked this with the NHS and the number of vaccines supplied to our region this week is 364,000, next week it will be 300,000 and the week after that 350,000. 

“The story is wrong in terms of numbers and trend.”

However, Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director of primary care at NHS England, told BBC Radio 4 Today programme that vaccines were being diverted away from areas like the North East and Yorkshire.

She said:

“Yes I really understand my colleague’s frustration, particularly in this case it happens to be in the northern areas, they’ve done an incredible job getting through their cohort priorities one and two, so their care home staff and residents, their over 80s and their health and social care staff.

“And so while we have a supply that is constrained we need to make sure that goes to the areas where people are not vaccinated, because what we have to do, our priority is to make sure that the top priority groups are vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“So we need to target our deliveries to make sure that they are going to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts.”