VIDEO: All vulnerable people in Blackpool to be vaccinated by mid-2021

Every vulnerable person in Blackpool, from elderly people to carers, is predicted to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the middle of the year - drastically reducing the Fylde coast’s death rate.
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The Winter Gardens has now opened as a mass testing site, more than doubling the number of vaccines able to be administered every day in the area.

All members of the four highest-priority groups identified by the government - care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, over-70s and clinically extremely vulnerable people - are expected to be offered the vaccine by the middle of next month. They will be followed by over-50s and 16 to 64-year-olds with serious underlying health conditions.

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Volunteer Robert Ward, 56, retired as a nurse in February last year but returned to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in December to help roll out the vaccine.

Our vaccine volunteers and health staffOur vaccine volunteers and health staff
Our vaccine volunteers and health staff

He and four other volunteers worked long hours at the hospital to administer around 400 injections every day. Now they now hope to vaccinate up to 1,000 people daily.

He said: “I came back out of retirement to join the vaccination programme because I felt it was a very valuable way of supporting the coronavirus fight. It has been very worthwhile and I would recommend it to any nurses out there who want to get back into nursing.

“We have been very busy. It’s on the go all the time, but we want to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Virtually everybody that I have met has been so grateful and so pleased to receive the vaccination. They do feel that it’s a way out of the situation that we are in. I’ve not had one complaint, even from people who are scared of needles.

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“It has been a very, very demanding time for my colleagues in the hospital and it does take its toll on all medical and support staff who have had to work through these past 12 months, and it continues to be very demanding. But they are strong people and they will continue to strive to give the best treatment to the people they serve.

Inside the new mass vaccination centre at the Winter GardensInside the new mass vaccination centre at the Winter Gardens
Inside the new mass vaccination centre at the Winter Gardens

“I think this is a positive way forward for us. I don’t think Covid is ever going to go away completely, but this is the way to get a bit more normality in our lives.”

Dr Arif Rajpura, director of public health for Blackpool Council, said it is hoped that, by vaccinating the Fylde coast’s most vulnerable groups, the local coronavirus death rate can be cut by ‘99 per cent’ with the help of the Winter Gardens site.

He said: “We’re really excited about having this service open. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. We can get more and more people vaccinated and slowly start to open up society and get back to normality later in the year.

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“This past year has been really tough for everyone on the Fylde coast with all the restrictions and so it’s important that people, when called for a vaccine, make an appointment to get it.

Vaccinations at the Winter GardensVaccinations at the Winter Gardens
Vaccinations at the Winter Gardens

"If we can get our most vulnerable population vaccinated, that helps us prevent 99 per cent of the mortality from Covid.”

Once vaccinated, people are asked to continue to follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance, as they may still be able to spread to virus to others.

OTHER VACCINATION SITES OPEN UP IN COUNTY

AFC Fylde’s Mill Farm stadium joined other Fylde coast venues including Moor Park Health and Leisure Centre at Bispham in hosting new vaccine sessions run by popular high street community pharmacies.

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The new pharmacy run sites join the large-scale vaccination centres in Blackpool, Blackburn and Lancaster, 11 hospital hubs and 35 GP-led sites in rolling out the Lancashire and South Cumbria Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Jane Scattergood, North West vaccination director and chief nurse at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre CCGs, said: “We have already made real progress in delivering the Covid-19 vaccine across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

“This will be expanded significantly as we ramp up delivery in the weeks ahead with our new pharmacy-led vaccine sites playing a key part.

“As trusted members of the local communities they serve, our pharmacy teams continue to work tirelessly to provide a vital service during this pandemic, often acting as the first port of call for expert health advice.

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“So, it is fitting that they will have a critical role in delivering the Covid-19 vaccine.

“I know there is a great deal of anticipation around the Covid-19 vaccine but remember all sites are operating on an appointment-only basis. To allow teams to operate safely and maintain social distancing please don’t arrive without booking first. The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine.”

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