Covid-19 vaccine set to be administered in Halifax this week as Calderdale leads the way in region’s response to pandemic

Calderdale is leading the way in the region’s vaccination roll-out with a Covid vaccine site set to open at Boots in Halifax town centre later this week.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The first Boots mass vaccination site, which will be administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, will operate from purpose-built facilities in its Halifax pharmacy.

According to the NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group, the NHS vaccination programme is progressing well in Calderdale and they are working to vaccinate people as quickly as supplies become available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The group said all their practices were working together to offer vaccinations from five shared centres across Calderdale and were busy contacting people in the priority groups to make appointments for their first vaccination.

Boots chemist, Halifax.Boots chemist, Halifax.
Boots chemist, Halifax.

The group said they were continuing to follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidelines to ensure the people at greatest risk from Covid-19 are offered their first vaccination as quickly as possible, and were working to cover everyone in the top priority groups, namely care home residents and staff, frontline health and care workers and people aged 80 plus, over the next few weeks.

The group said community pharmacies across West Yorkshire will be playing an important role in the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme and that as more supply becomes available, community pharmacists able to administer large numbers of vaccine will be joining the rollout and helping to make sure they can reach as many people as quickly as possible.

All services will continue to be appointment only and people will be invited for vaccinations by their practice or the national booking system. This will allow them to choose the most convenient location for them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The NHS is asking people not to contact their local GP practice to find out when they will receive their vaccination. Everyone in the first priority groups will be contacted over the next few weeks as more vaccine supplies become available, so are asking people to be patient and wait to be contacted

Pharmacy manager Amanda Smith at Heath Pharmacy, Savile Park, Halifax.Pharmacy manager Amanda Smith at Heath Pharmacy, Savile Park, Halifax.
Pharmacy manager Amanda Smith at Heath Pharmacy, Savile Park, Halifax.

A spokesperson for NHS Calderdale CCG said: “We know people are eager to get protected and may be concerned if they are in one of the priority cohorts and have not been contacted yet. However, we would like to reassure them that they will be contacted over the next few weeks.

“Services are extremely busy at the moment and we would ask people to help the NHS at this very difficult time by not contacting their local GP or other NHS services about getting a vaccination. People will not be able to book an appointment until they have been invited to do so, so please be patient and we will contact you as soon as it is your turn.”

The Courier is calling for all pharmacies in Calderdale to be allowed to administer the vaccine.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Amanda Smith, pharmacy manager at Heath Pharmacy in Halifax and vice chair of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire, supports the idea.

She said: “The more places that people can get it done, the easier it will be for people who struggle to access services.

“It will be much easier for them to access the jabs, and the more people that are given it the quicker we can get through everyone.

“We do a flu vaccine service very successfully every year, which is really popular with patients because it’s accessible for them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They don’t have to travel far to get their jabs, so it would be a good thing for us to do and certainly would be very popular.

“We all want to get involved, it just depends on the Government extending the service.”

Deborah Harkins, Calderdale Council’s Director of Public Health, has reiterated the importance of people getting the Covid vaccine.

She said: “Sadly, COVID-19 cases in Calderdale are rising rapidly, and the new variant spreads up to 70 per cent more easily. Calderdale people are amazing at tackling challenges with kindness and resilience, and one of the kindest things we can do at the moment is stay at home, reduce contact with others and remember Hands, Face, Space to help keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This is especially important whilst our most vulnerable residents are still being vaccinated. I urge everyone who is invited to have the jab to take up this opportunity for vital protection. The vaccine brings hope and positivity and the rollout is going well in Calderdale. The more people who are vaccinated, the sooner we can get through these difficult times and start returning to the greater freedoms that we enjoy.”

JPIMedia publications across England are calling on the Government to let all pharmacies play a part in the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.