Salford NHS Vaccination Service are pleased to announce that two more COVID-19 vaccination centres are opening across the city this week, working alongside the existing site at Clarendon Leisure Centre.
Today, Eccles Leisure Centre welcomed its first patients for vaccination. Irlam Leisure Centre will open its doors as a vaccination centre as of tomorrow.
The service is also pleased to announce that we are now calling residents age 75 years and older for their vaccine. Until yesterday, only those aged 80 years and older were the only ones being called.
Salford Primary Care Together, an organisation which joins up GP practices in the city, is running the vaccination service on behalf of the city. This arrangement is ensuring that GPs in Salford do not have to step down their routine work to staff the vaccination services, as has been the case in other parts of the country.
Dr. Nick Browne, GP at Gill Medical Centre in Walkden says: “The COVID-19 vaccine is very safe and effective. We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to get vaccinated to protect you and also your loved ones around you.
“The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner we can hopefully start getting the number of positive COVID-19 cases down, which will help reduce the pressure on the NHS and social care services.
“When it is your turn to have the vaccine, you will get your invitation either by a telephone call, text message or letter. Please do not contact your GP practice or hospital about being vaccinated. This is the largest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS and we have hundreds of people working their hardest to get the vaccine out as quickly as possible. Please be reassured that we will get to you.”
Salford’s over 80’s have all now also received invitations to book appointments at the newly opened super vaccination centre at the Etihad Campus. However, local people are being advised that if they prefer to have their vaccination within their local community, they should disregard this letter and book in at either Clarendon, Eccles or Irlam Leisure Centres.
For the latest information and updates about the COVID-19 vaccine, please go to www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine