Vax weekly update – 71,500 people now had first Covid jab

Around 71,500 people registered with a Bury GP have now been vaccinated against coronavirus.

This means that more than 39% of the eligible population (182,100) have been given at least one of the two jabs necessary to protect against the potentially fatal illness.

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

Bury’s vaccination figures now also include local residents who are vaccinated at hospital and mass vaccination centres such as the Etihad.

Vaccination targets:

• By 15 Feb: everyone aged 70+ and clinically extremely vulnerable people over 16 = 39,400 people. Completed.
• By 15 April: everyone aged 50+ and clinically vulnerable people over 16 = a further 72,700 people.
• By end July: 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.

Remember:

• Vaccinations are given to people in the priority order set by the Government
• Vaccination is by invitation only and you will be contacted when it is your turn. Depending on the priority group you are in, you may be contacted by your GP practice (by letter, phone or text message which will include a link to book an appointment) or you may receive a letter from the NHS.
• If you are aged 60 or over and have not yet received the first dose of the vaccine, please contact your GP practice. Otherwise, please wait to be contacted.
• If you receive a letter from the NHS inviting you to one of the national vaccination centres, but would prefer to receive your vaccination locally, you can choose to wait and your GP practice will be in touch. Please do not contact your GP practice before then.
• The second dose of the vaccine is given around 11 weeks after the first dose, and you will be contacted by letter, phone or text message to book an appointment when the time is right. If you haven't been contacted by week 10 after your first dose, please contact your GP practice.
• 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: 11 March 2021.