Council chairman appeals for all to get their Covid vaccination

Everybody called up for vaccination against Covid-19 should go and get one – that is the appeal from Cllr Jim Clark, chair of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Clark, who lives in Harrogate, has attended the Yorkshire Showground which is operating as a vaccination centre, for his coronavirus jab.

He said: “It is a very efficient operation, despite challenges posed by the weather, and everybody who attended for their jab at the same time as me was very pleased with the service from the NHS and the many volunteers on hand and ready to help.

“We have all come to value the work of the NHS more than ever during this pandemic and the staff working on the frontline in very challenging circumstances and the best way we can show our continuing support is by taking up the offer of the vaccination. This is the biggest contribution we can all make, along with following social distancing and hand hygiene rules, to reducing the pressure on our hospitals and to saving lives.”

Cllr Clark, aged 73, had his first vaccination when the NHS was formed after the Second World War. He said: “Over the years I have been vaccinated as part of national campaigns against all sorts of serious illnesses such as mumps and diphtheria.  And of course I have my flu vaccination every year. I remain ever grateful to the NHS and proud of this great institution.”

Cllr Clark was vaccinated by Dr Ian Dilley, a GP partner at East Parade Surgery in Harrogate and the Clinical Director of the Mowbray Square Primary Care Network.

Dr Dilley said: “The vaccine rollout is going extremely well and it is great to see so many people enthusiastic to have their vaccination. All the staff have worked very hard to ensure our systems are smooth and well organised and we hope all our patients experience a process that is safe, reassuring and friendly.

“The combined effort across primary care, the incredible voluntary sector, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and many other organisations has resulted in a service the whole county should be proud of.”