EVERYONE IN TOWN SHOULD BE VACCINATED WITHIN TWO WEEKS
THE whole of Bolton should be vaccinated within two weeks, as the coronavirus infection rate has soared to more than 10 times the UK average, an MP said yesterday.
Tory Mark Logan, who represents Bolton North East, said: “The only way we will help stop Covid causing serious illness, hospitalisation and death and avoid future lockdowns is if we vaccinate Bolton with first doses before the end of May.
“Bolton must be fast tracked for vaccinations and we must get that first dose out to all over-18s by the end of the month – as a priority.”
Kits
Latest figures suggest the town has 254.9 Covid cases per 100,000 population, with the rapid spread blamed on the Indian variant.
In the 24 hours up to 4pm on Saturday, 79 new cases were found. However, it’s thought there has not been a coronavirus-related death at Royal Bolton Hospital since April 26.
Surge testing continued yesterday as part of a huge operation to track and contain the problem.
Council teams handed out kits to residents in the virus hotspot over the weekend.
Vaccinations have also been stepped up in the town with huge queues forming at a “jab bus”.
One resident said: “I can’t believe how many people are here, it’s crazy. They’re queuing
round the block for a jab.”
Another vaccination site will open today.
Security officer Sheikh Shamsi, 37, said: “I have followed the rules all along. Some of the people where I work think Covid is not here – like it is a rumour.”
Care home nurse Shirley Taylor, 66, has been fully vaccinated and had been looking forward to better days.
She said: “Three weeks ago, we had one of the lowest rates in Bolton. It’s rife around here now.”
Those leading the vaccination programme say areas with a lower jab uptake are the places where Covid rates are rising fastest – and cases of the Indian variant are being found.
Senior responsible officer Dr Helen Wall said
this was partly due to social factors such as deprivation, as well as the availability of the vaccine.
Neighbouring Blackburn has been given the go-ahead to start surge vaccinations, said the director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Increase
Dominic Harrison tweeted he was “delighted that we now have a green light to rapidly increase vaccinations”.
He said the authority will receive an additional supply of more than 1,000 Pfizer jabs for the next two weeks for both high variant spread areas and all residents over 18, subject to eligibility.