More opportunities for eligible patients in the Harrogate district to get their COVID booster jabs
Patients in the Harrogate district who are eligible for their COVID booster vaccine can now book appointments to have their jab at the Yorkshire Event Centre.
The Yorkshire Health Network – a collaborative of GP practices in the Harrogate and Ripon districts – is aiming to deliver around 20,000 jabs from the Harrogate showground site between 6 and 22 December, with clinics set to take place every day.
In addition, eligible patients can continue to access their booster jabs from other locations in the Harrogate district, including Ripon Racecourse, the Homecare Pharmacy site in Chain Lane, Knaresborough as well as a number of community pharmacies in the Harrogate area, subject to capacity and vaccine availability.
Appointments are available through the NHS National Booking Service online or by calling 119. Eligible patients are asked not to contact their GP practice, local pharmacy or Yorkshire Event Centre directly about getting their booster jab.
Dr Cath Dixon, Executive Chair and Clinical Lead of the Yorkshire Health Network, said: “Firstly, I want to say thank you to the teams at the Yorkshire Event Centre for their stellar support, along with the ranks of vaccinators, clinic staff and volunteers who are incredibly dedicated and help make this all possible. I’m delighted we’ve been able to secure this additional capacity to deliver the vaccination programme in the Harrogate district, with a range of options now available for patients.”
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Accountable Officer, Amanda Bloor, said: “I would encourage anyone who’s eligible to get their booster jab to give themselves and their families the best possible protection against coronavirus.
“Against the Delta variant of coronavirus, which remains by far and away the most dominant strain of coronavirus currently circulating in the UK, the vaccines we have available are highly effective at preventing serious illness, with the booster dose offering longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19.”
Heather Parry, Managing Director of Yorkshire Event Centre, added: “We are proud to play a part in the drive to ensure the nation stays safe against COVID-19, by supporting the NHS as we have done throughout the pandemic.
“Thousands of local people have already benefited from the vaccination programme which was running at the YEC for more than 12 months, and now we are proud to support the NHS in their next phase of giving booster jabs to thousands more. We have nothing but admiration for the work they do.”
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced yesterday (Tuesday) that booster jabs will be offered to everyone in England who is eligible by the end of January.
All adults will be offered a booster jab three months after their second dose of the vaccine.
Mr Johnson said jabs would be prioritised according to age, with the NHS working down the list in five-year bands as was done previously.
Currently, people aged 40 and over are eligible get a booster jab in addition to:-
- people who live and work in care homes
- frontline health and social care workers
- people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
- people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
- people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups are also being urged to get a booster dose. Those who are yet to have their first or second vaccine can still come forward and book an appointment.