Two new Yorkshire Covid-19 vaccination centres to open
PLANS FOR NEW TESTING CENTRES ALSO COMING TO OUR REGION
AROUND 12,500 coronavirus vaccinations have been administered across the East Riding since roll-outs began in December, while two new Yorkshire vaccination centres are set to open this month.
East Riding Council’s Health, Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard the figure already included some second doses of the jab.
Associate director of Public Health Mike Mcdermott told the committee having access to the more portable Oxford vaccine meant more GP surgeries could soon also be administering it.
Councillors also heard on Tuesday, that the closest new large vaccination sites to East Yorkshire set to open Wakefield and York.
The sites are being created to speed up the roll out of vaccines to care home residents, the elderly and other most vulnerable groups.
They also heard residents in 23 East Riding care homes had already been vaccinated while the most elderly and vulnerable to coronavirus remain the priority.
Mr Mcdermott said coronavirus testing in the local area was also set to expand with the opening of new sites in Bridlington in Goole.
He added the council helped deal with around 50 outbreaks in schools, care homes and elsewhere from October to December.
The council officer said: “We’re aiming to do 30,000 coronavirus tests between now and March, focusing on critical workers who need to go into work.
“We’re looking to open new community testing sites in Bridlington and Goole by the end of the week or next Monday.
“Bishop Burton College is also operating its own testing with government support and we’re looking at working with them, as well as with other schools setting up lateral flow testing for staff.
“There’s also talks to set up a pilot testing scheme in our three special schools.
“We’re also working with the military to offer a site at Leconfield for police officers, fire fighters and other emergency services staff.
“I think opening up GP practices for vaccines would negate the lead for a large vaccine centre locally.
“A total of 612 residents and around 1,000 staff have been vaccinated as of Monday.
“The plan is that all residents and staff are vaccinated by the end of January.”