72,000 people in the borough have received first Covid-19 vaccination

Date published: 05 March 2021

72,000 people in the Rochdale borough have now received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, as of Friday (5 March).

Residents who are aged 60-64, those aged 16 and over with long term conditions and carers (the main carer of an elderly or disabled person) are the priority groups currently being invited for a vaccine.

About 85% of residents aged 65 to 69 have already received their first doses and anyone in this group that have not been able to take up appointments are now being invited to come forward.

Those in groups one to five - over 65s, the clinically extremely vulnerable, health and social care workers - are being invited to phone or email to book an appointment for their first dose of a vaccine.

Residents aged 65 or over, those who have been advised to shield by the government (the clinically extremely vulnerable), and health and social care workers who have not yet received an invitation for a vaccine, and are registered with a GP in the borough (Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Rochdale), can now book an appointment at one of the four vaccination centres in the borough by calling 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or emailing hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net.

 

Progress of local vaccination programme and care home visiting

Around 85% of people in priority group five (ages 65-69) have received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, rising to 90% in local residents over the age of 70. 

Those who received their first doses 12 weeks ago will start to receive their second vaccines from next week.

In an update to councillors this week, chief executive of Rochdale Council, Steve Rumbelow said: "Our vaccination programme continues at pace; everyone in priority group five (people aged 65 to 69) should have now been offered an appointment either at one of our community vaccination sites, or the regional site at the Etihad campus in Manchester. Already about 85% of this group have received their first doses and any that have not been able to take up appointments are now being invited to come forward.

"Since the programme began in December, 90% of our residents aged over 70 have received at least one dose. There are areas where rates of vaccination take-up are lower; we are continuing to arrange interventions such as pop-up clinics in targeted areas.

"From next week some people who received their first doses 12 weeks ago will start to receive their second doses."

On the government's announcement that care home residents will be allowed one regular indoor visitor from 8 March, Mr Rumbelow said: "Residents in every care home, apart from one still under outbreak control, have now been offered the vaccine.

"We are liaising with the local care sector to help facilitate the safe indoor visiting that can take place from 8 March for homes not under outbreak control.

"The visiting guidance aims to strike a balance between the risk of infection and the importance for the mental wellbeing of residents and their families."
 

Read more: Care home residents to be allowed one regular visitor from 8 MarchPublished: 22 February 2021

 

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Case numbers in the borough are still coming down but the rate has slowed dramatically, with 163 cases per 100,000 people being reported for the week ending 26 February, down from 171 cases per 100,000 the week before.

The age group with the most new cases is 20-29 year-olds and the wards with the most cases include Bamford, Central Rochdale, Milkstone & Deeplish, West Middleton and Kingsway wards.

 

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Who is eligible?

Phase 2 of the vaccination programme will be prioritised in order of age, once all at-risk groups in phase 1 have been offered at least one dose. The decision by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) was announced last week (26 February).

There have been calls for phase 2 to prioritise certain professions, eg teachers and police officers - but this has been rejected by the JCVI who said that priority based on jobs would be "more complex" and could slow down the programme.

Phase 2

• all those aged 40 to 49 years
• all those aged 30 to 39 years
• all those aged 18 to 29 years

 

Read more: Phase two of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to be determined by agePublished: 26 February 2021

The priority groups that are in phase one of the vaccination programme include everyone aged 50 or above, those with underlying health conditions and health care workers.

• Group 1 - residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
• Group 2 - people aged 80 years and over, and frontline health and social care workers
• Group 3 - people aged 75-79
• Group 4 - people aged 70-74, and high risk people aged 16 and over (the clinically extremely vulnerable)
• Group 5 - people aged 65-69
• Group 6 - people over 16 with long term conditions and carers (the main carer of an elderly or disabled person)
• Group 7 - people aged 60-64
• Group 8 - people aged 55-59
• Group 9 - people aged 50-54

The number of people in the Rochdale borough in these nine priority groups is believed to be around 120,000.

Locally, residents aged 60-64, those aged 16-64 in at-risk groups, and carers of older and disabled people are the groups currently being invited for a vaccine.

 

 

Lifting lockdown

On Monday 22 February, Boris Johnson outlined the government's four step plan to lift England's lockdown. The 'roadmap' covers everything from reopening schools to opening shops, hairdressers, pubs, gyms and cinemas.

Part one of the first step will be that schools will reopen to all pupils from Monday 8 March. Part two of the first step will take effect on 29 March when outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed and the restrictions on organised outdoor sport will be relaxed.
 

Read more: Govt 'roadmap' out of lockdown to start with the reopening of schools for all pupils from 8 MarchPublished: 22 February 2021

 

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Where to be vaccinated?

The borough has four community vaccination centres in operation; the site at Number One Riverside can get up to 1,250 vaccinations completed per day (depending on supply). Vaccinations are also being administered at Rochdale Infirmary five days a week.

Residents may be invited to have the vaccination at the Greater Manchester NHS Vaccination Centre at the Etihad Campus in East Manchester, one of the national large-scale vaccination sites.

The Greater Manchester centre is an additional option for people, who, once they have been contacted to make an appointment, can book through the national booking service online or over the phone. If it is not convenient for you to travel so far for a vaccination, you can opt to wait to be invited to attend one of the local vaccination centres in the Rochdale borough instead.

The local vaccination programme is being run by groups of GPs with the support of the council and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group.

When it is your turn to receive the vaccine, you will be contacted by Rochdale Health Alliance or your GP surgery and invited to go for your appointment. If you’re not registered with a GP, you will need to register with one.

You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine. You cannot just turn up at one of the vaccination service centres.

Answers to key questions around the vaccination process can be found at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine

 

A FAST test programme was set up in the borough in January, with four test sites across the borough.

Anyone who cannot work from home or comes into regular contact with the public is encouraged to take up this offer of new Find And Stop Transmission (FAST) testing to protect themselves, their loved ones, and other residents.

The FAST testing programme, which use lateral flow tests, aims to identify those who unknowingly have the virus as they have no symptoms – otherwise known as asymptomatic.

FAST tests are only for people showing no symptoms. You must not attend if you have any symptoms. Tests are free and there is no need to book you can simply turn up at one of the sites across the borough:

• Rochdale – Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN
• Heywood – Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, Heywood, OL10 4TW (both a walk in site and a drive-through site)
• Middleton – Bowlee Sports Centre, Windermere Road, Middleton, M24 4LA
• Pennines – Hare Hill Bowling Club, Townhouse Road Littleborough, OL15 9BG

All sites are open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm at weekends.

If you have Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend one of the FAST test sites. You should book a test online or by phoning 101.

• www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

 

 

The borough has three local test centres:

• Rochdale - in the car park at Rochdale Leisure Centre, Entwisle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ
• Middleton - in the marquee on the Market Place Car Park next to Middleton Arena, Old Hall Street, Middleton M24 1AG
• Heywood - Heywood Civic Centre, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW

You must drive, walk or cycle to the site - do not use a taxi or public transport. If this is not possible, you'll need to order yourself a home test.

Bookings for 8am-1pm can be booked from 8pm the night before. Bookings from 1pm-8pm can be booked from 10am that day.