Extra vaccinations made available in Blackburn with Darwen

The NHS and the Council have are urging eligible people who have not yet had their Covid-19 jab to come forward without delay.

The call comes as extra doses arrive in the area this week.

A number of new sites are opening from Tuesday to boost the delivery of the vaccination and additional vaccination first doses have been secured.

Vaccination of residents is according to a priority list, as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), based on age and vulnerability of people and the risk of them becoming seriously ill and dying from Covid-19.

The current criteria is:

• Aged 36 and over (or turning 36 before July 1)
• Aged 18 and over with any underlying health conditions
• Aged 18 and over AND living, caring or working with anyone with underlying health conditions
• Health and Social Care staff
• Any carers – paid or unpaid. You will not be asked for proof as unpaid carers are eligible.

The new sites are hyper local to Blackburn with Darwen for the convenience of local residents but anyone who is eligible can book into the appointments for their first dose.

They include:

• Mobile 5 Bay Clinic with disabled access delivered by articulated lorry, Penny Street, Blackburn, BB1 6HQ
• Pop up clinic in Revidge Fold Church, Shear Brow, BB1 8DS.
• Everest Pharmacy,21 Cemetery Road, Darwen BB3 2LZ

The sites will be open 8am until 8pm from Tuesday, May 18 to Thursday, May 20, with more details about extra clinics at the weekend and next week to be released very soon.

Bookings can be made via http://bit.ly/pennine-vac and other venues will come online throughout the week.

Further details will also be available online at www.healthierlsc.co.uk

Opening hours of existing vaccination sites including Blackburn Cathedral and the Royal Blackburn Hospital Hub also are also being extended, with details to be confirmed shortly.

As well as securing extra first doses, the NHS is continuing to give second doses when they are due.

Denise Park, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

The Council, the NHS and our partners have been pushing hard and lobbying for an increase in vaccines to help protect our residents in the face of this new variant so we are thrilled to see these new sites opening up.

We have secured a large number of extra vaccines for Blackburn with Darwen which will see over 1,000 new extra doses a day which is amazing and could make a real difference. We are urging everyone who meets the eligibility criteria to book their vaccination slot as quickly as possible.

The new local sites will make this much easier, especially with the new mobile clinic on Penny Street, and our existing vaccination sites and hubs are extending their opening hours to fit more vaccinations in. There are now more places and opportunities to get your vaccination than ever.

We want to appeal to everyone in Blackburn and Darwen to be ready –If we all work together we can beat this.”

Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, said:

We are delighted to have secured the extra vaccine supply. The next week will be critical for the borough to hold down the rate of spread of the Covid variant through sticking to the latest rules and guidelines, getting tested through the new and existing testing sites, and everyone who is over 18 and eligible to come forward for the extra vaccination opportunity.

I would also urge everybody who has been eligible for vaccination who has not taken up the offer to come forward over the next two weeks to receive their vaccination. The additional vaccine supply is through Pfizer which is recommended for all ages.

The Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock has made it very clear that the Government in England wants to deal with all rising case rates and surges of variants with these vaccinations and testing rather than further restrictions and lockdowns. We all need to play our part to get the rates down across the borough through getting tested, getting vaccinated and following the rules.”

Jane Scattergood, Covid-19 Vaccination Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria, said:

The NHS is working closely with all its partners on a rapid response to the virus in order to protect our residents. We have secured extra vaccines for everyone who is eligible and made it as easy as possible for them to come forward to be vaccinated.

People will have more opportunities to book their vaccination on a date and a place that suits them, no matter where they live. As long as you are eligible, please come forward and book your vaccine as quickly as you can.

A huge thank you to all our staff and partners who are working hard on the delivery of the vaccination programme and are helping to protect our residents and their loved ones.”