Scale of vaccine roll-out in Wigan explained as residents' experiences differ

Soaring case rates and the emergence of two more contagious variants of coronavirus have added greater urgency to getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.

The highest priority groups include care home residents and their carers and over-80s.

However, so far a variety of accounts of the roll-out have been given by Wigan residents.

While some people said they had already received their first and second doses and the process had been plain sailing, others said they were concerned their elderly parents would not even receive a first dose for some time.

One source told the Wigan Post that a whole week had just gone by without any vaccines being delivered to Wigan - although they had now resumed.

However, the Healthier Wigan Partnership said there are more than 14,000 over-80s in the borough.

That means not everyone in that age group has been able to receive the vaccine at the same time, with patients’ ages, existing health conditions and illnesses and ethnicities all being taken into account when deciding who should go first.

Vaccines have been arriving in the borough in batches of around 1,000 doses.

Health bosses said GP practices will be contacting more over-80s to invite them for their first dose as soon as delivery of more vaccines is confirmed.

Patients were also reminded they have to wait to be contacted with a venue and date from their GP surgery, and not just turn up at one of the inoculation sites.

The massive vaccination project has been given a boost after the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was approved and roll-out of it alongside the Pfizer jab got under way.

There was no evidence of long queues at the Robin Park Sports Centre, which is one of the borough’s vaccination sites yesterday - a very different situation from when the first Pfizer inoculations were administered before Christmas.

Some Wiganers had glowing reports of the whole experience.

Norman and Anne Davies, who are 82 and 80 respectively and live in Throstlenest Avenue, Springfield, have now had both of their Pfizer jabs.

Mr Davies said: “We just wanted to say what a fantastic job they are doing, the NHS workers, and thank them very much.

“When we went for the first jab three weeks ago it was a bit confused and we had to queue for three hours in the rain. But this time we were straight and straight out at the Robin Park Sports Centre - super-efficient.

“It was great to get the first dose and even better now. We feel so much safer. In fact I’m wondering if Wigan Rugby will be giving me a call-up!”

However, one woman said her mum, who lives in Ince, was 87 and is still awaiting the phone call for her first jab.

She feared it could be up to a fortnight before she receives her initial dose and was concerned many older people in the Hindley and Ince area in particular seemed to be in the same position.

She said: “It doesn’t seem to be equal across the borough when it comes to receiving the vaccine. I know there are issues with the supply but some areas seem to be much further ahead of the curve than others.

“The Prime Minister has said we’re in a race but some elderly people in Wigan have not even got to the starting point yet.”

The Government has set an extremely ambitious target for vaccinations, which has led to questions about manufacturing capacity and supply.

The Healthier Wigan Partnership said it was trying to ensure those most at risk from Covid-19 get vaccinated first.

It also said the over 80s, along with health and social care staff, remain the top priority for plans this month across the entire country, not just in Wigan.

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