More than 47,000 vaccine doses administered in Wigan with all care homes covered

More than 47,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have now been administered in Wigan with all care homes residents and staff done.

By the end of the weekend (January 31), 35,500 vaccines had been carried out for people in the first four priority cohort groups across the borough of Wigan.

This includes people aged 70 and above as well as anyone who is considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable according to the national guidance.

In addition, 11,500 vaccines have been given to health and social care staff.

All 51 care homes across the borough have now been offered the vaccine too.

It comes after three care homes could not be vaccinated last week in time for the national target of January 24 due to cases of Covid being at these sites.

The figures include all those vaccinated at centres in Wigan, Leigh, Golborne and Hindley and by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

Hollowood Chemist in Wigan has also been vaccinating patients over the last two weeks as part of the national programme overseen by NHS England.

The pharmacy in Mesnes Street appears on the national vaccination booking system which people are invited to through a letter sent to all eligible cohorts.

Molyneux House in School Lane is being used by the NHS trust which runs Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Leigh Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital as a vaccination centre for health and social care staff across the borough.

The organisation has been working through its staff based on risk level, starting with those who are clinically vulnerable and face the highest risk.

It has also helped vaccinate care home workers and vulnerable healthcare staff within other organisations, as well as residents aged 80 and above.

Some people have also been invited to national vaccination centres such as at the Etihad campus in Manchester and the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.

Vaccines at the national centres and the community pharmacy are not accounted for in the local figures published by Wigan council every week.

NHS England could not provide any validated data regarding how many people have now been vaccinated at the community pharmacy in Wigan town centre.

A spokesperson for Wigan’s community vaccination programme said: “In order to vaccinate people as quickly as possible, additional regional vaccination centres have been opened across the country, on top of the local vaccination sites.

“Some residents within Wigan Borough will get invited to get vaccinated at these regional sites by NHS England.

“The vaccination programme in the Borough continues and all eligible patients will be invited as soon as possible, so patients who can’t or don’t want to go to Manchester shouldn’t worry.

“If patients already have an appointment at a local centre, they should ignore the letter and attend their booked appointment in the borough.”

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