Vax weekly update – 35,000 people now had first Covid jab

Around 35,000 people registered with a Bury GP have now been vaccinated against coronavirus.

This means that more than 19% of the eligible population (182,100) have been given at least one of the two jabs necessary to protect against the potentially fatal illness.

The continued pace of Bury’s programme means that the majority of cohorts 1-4 (everyone aged 70+ and clinically extremely vulnerable people over 16) have now either had their jab or have an appointment booked.

Anyone who is in the Top 4 tiers (i.e. over 70) and has not been invited for a vaccination should contact their GP.

A programme of vaccinating eligible housebound people is well under way, and the council is also offering transport to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and cannot easily get to the vaccination centres as part of its humanitarian work with the group.

Bury’s jabs are being carried out by medical staff at four vaccination centres run by the Primary Care Network: the Elizabethan Suite in Bury, Bealey’s in Radcliffe, Ramsbottom Civic Hall, and Prestwich Walk-in Centre.

Vaccination targets:

• By 15 Feb: everyone aged 70+ and clinically extremely vulnerable people over 16 = 39,400 people.
• By May: everyone aged 50+ and clinically vulnerable people over 16 = a further 72,700 people.
• By end September: everyone 18+ and clinically vulnerable people aged 16 and 17 = the remaining 70,000 people.

Frontline health and social care staff are also being vaccinated as priority groups.

Bury’s vaccination figures will be higher once results from hospital and mass testing sites are added in.

Remember:

• Vaccinations are given to people in the priority order set by the Government
• When it’s your turn, you will be invited by your GP to have a vaccination.
• Remember to go back for your second jab, up to 12 weeks from your first, once you are given an appointment for it, in order to have increased protection
• You must still follow the Covid-safe rules even if you have been vaccinated – it takes several weeks for the vaccine to work, and you may still be able to catch the virus and pass it on.

Advice and support on all matters related to coronavirus can be found on the council’s website: www.bury.gov.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 10 February 2021.