HUNDREDS of people living in Salford will receive their first COVID-19 vaccine this week as the mass vaccination programme begins in England
Salford is one of many locations in England to have started the vaccination programme within the local community which is invite only starting with those aged over 80 as well as care home staff and residents.
Salford Primary Care Together (SPCT), supported by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group are organising and delivering the community vaccinations programme. The first community vaccination service has opened at Clarendon Leisure Centre, with several more to open across Salford over the next few weeks. Salford City Council has set up a call centre to invite people and set up appointments. The site will follow social distancing and other safety procedures to make sure people are safe whilst receiving their vaccination.
Sylvia McNulty was the first person to have the vaccine as part of the community programme and she said: “I had a lovely experience getting the vaccine and the staff were lovely too. My late father was born where the Clarendon Leisure Centre is now and we both had businesses in the Langworthy area so it was great to get the vaccine there. I can’t wait to get my second vaccine and start going out again once full protection is reached.”
The vaccine is the best protection from COVID-19 and the vaccine being used is from PfizerBioNTech. People will need two separate doses, 21 days apart, with full protection after 28 days from the second dose. GPs, nurses and health care assistants are all helping deliver the vaccine and protect the local community.
Dr Nick Browne, Salford CCG’s COVID-19 lead, said: “I’m so pleased that the vaccine is now available and being given to those most at risk within our community. I’d like to thank GPs, nurses and other primary care health care professionals who are helping deliver the first vaccine in a safe and effective way. Hopefully this is a step forward to getting back to normal at some point in the future.”
Peter Roberts, who also had his first vaccine yesterday (Wednesday, December 16), said: “My overall experience of getting the vaccine was brilliant. I received a phone call to invite me and I was booked in straight away. I was given a specific time slot and there were no problems with the jab, it’s nothing to worry about. I’d like to encourage everyone invited for their vaccine to get booked in. I can’t wait for my second jab so I can get back out into the community.”
More vaccination hubs will be set up in the coming weeks as more people will be invited to get their vaccine. People are advised to wait for an invite when it is their turn and should not contact their GP to ask for it sooner.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit: https://www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/live-well/covid-19-vaccine