Army of volunteers prepares to support Manchester mass vaccination programme
The volunteers will work as marshals to keep sites safe.
More than 1,000 people have come forward to support efforts in Manchester to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of patients.
Last week the first of six new community vaccination hubs opened, with the Newton Heath Health Centre in North Manchester opening its doors.
This week a further five will open across the city as local public health teams lead the way to protect our communities.
The sites that will soon open are:
- Irish World Heritage Centre, Cheetham Hill - live from January 14
- The Vallance Centre, Brunswick - live from January 14
- The Grange Community Centre, Beswick - live from January 15
- Chancellors Hotel, Fallowfield - live from January 15
- The Jain Community Centre, Longsight - live from January 16
They join the two centres which are already up and running - the Woodhouse Park Active Lifestyle Centre in Wythenshawe which went live on December 16, and the Newton Heath Health Centre on January 9.
To support efforts a large cohort of volunteers will assist the roll out of the vaccine. So far 1,015 people have come forward to help marshal the vaccination sites, and ensure that the project runs as smoothly as possible.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Manchester are set to be immunised over the coming months. In addition to community vaccination efforts work is also underway in the city’s hospitals, as well as pharmacies, GP surgeries and the regional mass vaccination centre at the Etihad Stadium.
It is important to note that local GPs will be contacting patients about getting a vaccination in the order set out at a national level - with the most vulnerable first. You do not need to contact them.
You may also receive a letter from the NHS offering you the option of attending the Great Manchester Mass Vaccination Centre at the Etihad Tennis Centre in Manchester, or a local pharmacy.
David Regan, Manchester’s Director of Public Health, said: “We in the early stages of one of the biggest and most ambitious public health initiatives ever seen in Manchester. Every single person involved in the vaccination process, from the clinicians giving it, to the drivers delivering doses to Manchester, to the volunteers who will keep vaccination sites safe has a hugely significant role to play.
“The next few months will be critical if we are to turn the tide against this virus. I would ask anyone who is notified about getting a vaccine to keep their appointment. Until then the most important things we can all keep doing is maintaining social distancing, hand washing and sticking to national health guidelines.”
Councillor Bev Craig, Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing for Manchester City Council, said: “So many Mancunians have gone above and beyond since the beginning of this pandemic. We are asking for one last effort as we push to vaccinate as many residents as possible.
“The vaccination programme is the largest the city has ever seen and we are keen to see it rolled out as quickly across the city for as many people as possible. We can all do our bit either by getting the jab, by volunteering at one of our vaccination sites, or encouraging our friends and families to take it up when it’s offered.
“Vaccination will be the best tool we have if we are to return to normality and I am confident our incredible local healthcare teams rise to this new challenge and succeed.”
Dr. Manisha Kumar, Medical Director of Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, said: “My colleagues are working tirelessly to roll out one of the largest and most important public health programmes in history. To successfully vaccinate as many people as possible will require a huge effort on all our parts, but I am confident we will be able to achieve this.”