Manchester is launching a huge drive to get younger people vaccinated over the next three weeks, including a brand new pop-up centre in Exchange Square, so that as many have been jabbed as possible by the government’s planned reopening date on July 19.
With the city’s infection rates still in the top five nationally, driven by high numbers among 18-30-year-olds, the army have been drafted in to sprint through the final age brackets in the next couple of weeks.
Health chiefs are warning that just because the link between Covid and deaths has been fractured, that doesn’t mean that people - including young people - cannot suffer long term effects of catching the virus, including chronic exhaustion.
READ MORE: Pupils asked to do alternate days at high school as staffing hit by Covid
Meanwhile they also point out that in the near future, government may well make Covid ‘passports’ a requirement for people to either travel abroad or attend some events or venues in this country.
From Friday afternoon, there will be a pop-up walk-in vaccination in Exchange Square, while two brand new mass vaccination centres have already opened in Belle Vue and Moss Side.
David Regan, the city’s director of public health, said it was vital the city’s huge young population now come forward for their first jab, both for their own sake and that of relatives.
“Our rates are still rising - we’re in the top five nationally,” he said.
“We know the biggest increase in the rates is amongst our 18-30-year-olds and this is the cohort we are particularly targeting to make sure we have this big push up to July 19.
“While we won’t have double protection for everybody for that date, obviously, we are just trying to make sure we get as many first doses delivered to that last cohort as quickly as possible - and get them booked in for their second dose.”
It isn’t necessarily always possible to be sure whether relatives, including older or vulnerable ones, have received the jab and are protected, he pointed out - while young people themselves can and do have long-lasting after effects from catching the disease.
“If you get vaccinated, you’re doing your bit for the wider community,” he said.
“But we've got some case studies ourselves and you’ll hear them from young people saying ‘if I had known about this, my own view of this virus would be very different’.
“The assumption was ‘this is fine’, but it’s about telling people it’s not just about illness and death. It's about possible long term effects.
“It’s not a good choice to choose to get the virus, because you just don’t know how your body will react.”
The government is also discussing how to deploy so-called Covid ‘passports’, which would allow people to do certain things only if they are double jabbed.
“There are discussions happening this week, I understand, about both domestic policy around what it means to have a double dose of the vaccine and also obviously - still very topical - international travel and what the requirements might be for another country," he said.
“It does seem that some countries, in order to go on holiday, will require some proof of double vaccination.”
A few weeks ago Manchester picked eight of the highest-risk wards - those that have had persistently higher rates of Covid in the past year - for a particular vaccine drive and in Cheetham, Crumpsall and Levenshulme, that has been particularly successful, he said.
“But actually along the central belt of the city - Moss Side, Hulme, Longsight, Ardwick - all around that south central belt and parts of East Manchester, we knew we were still having particular challenges.”
A shuttle bus is being laid on to the Belle Vue site, while both that centre and Moss Side are extensive in scale, featuring more than half a dozen vaccination pods and an army of volunteers.
The Exchange Square pop-up is open on Friday from 2pm-6pm.
Dr. Manisha Kumar, Medical Director of Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, said: “The success of our vaccination programme is vital in ensuring that we will be able to safely reopen the city.
“There has been a superhuman effort made over the past year to protect our communities and we need to see that more than ever in this crucial period.
“The Delta variant has spread incredibly quickly through the city, and we are seeing more people unwell with Covid or are either unvaccinated or have not come forward for their second dose. We are also seeing the disabling impact of long Covid on people’s lives.
“Vaccines give us the best chance of avoiding being admitted to hospital, and ultimately reduce deaths from Covid-19.”
She said it had been ‘very concerning’ to see misinformation spread through communities, questioning the safety of the vaccine.
That could ‘ultimately cost lives’, she said.
“I would urge anyone to use professional sources or speak to your GP if you have any worries about being vaccinated
“More than 300,000 people in Manchester have had their first vaccination but frankly, we need more. This is going to take each one of us making the right choice and getting the jab. Even more importantly we need people to get their second jab which gives up to 95% protection against the virus.
“If we make one final push we will finally be able to return to a normal way of life. I’d implore anyone who’s not had their jab yet to do the right thing, and go get one.”
For information about permanent vaccination centres in the city, see here.
Below is a full list of all mass centres, their opening times and what kind of vaccinations they are offering.
Mass walk-in vaccination centres
Belle Vue (The Enterprise) – with army support
Belle Vue Sports Village
Pink Bank Lane, Manchester M12 5GH
Open to Manchester residents aged 18+
Open seven days a week from Saturday, 26 June until Sunday, 18 July
Open 09.00 to 20.00
Free bus to the site.
Moss Side
Moss Lane East, Manchester M15 5NN
Open to Manchester residents aged 18+
Open seven days a week from Saturday 26, June until Sunday, 18 July
Open 09.00 to 20.00
Exchange Square
Friday 2 July – 2pm until 6pm
Open to anyone aged 18+ who live or work in Manchester
Heaton Park
Golf Pavilion Car Park, Heaton Park M25 2SW (Entrance opposite Sainsbury's)
Pfizer and AZ first and second doses (if it has been 8 weeks since your first).
Wednesday 30 June - 9.30am to 3.30pm
Walk in or pre-book by calling 0800 092 4020 or 0161 947 0770. Lines are open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm
Vaccination centres availability by date
Saturday 26 June - Sunday 18 July
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen), Pfizer first dose or second dose and AZ first and second dose.
There is a free shuttle service for this clinic.
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen), Pfizer first dose or second dose and AZ first dose or second dose.
Wednesday 30 June
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE, 10am - 2pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, M22 1QW, 8.30am - 6pm, AstraZeneca, first and second doses
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, M22 1QW, 6pm - 9pm, Pfizer, first and second doses
Heaton Park Golf Pavilion Car Park, M25 2SW (Entrance opposite Sainsbury's) 9.30am - 3.30pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm, (please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer, first and second doses and AZ first and second doses
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm (please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer, first and second doses and and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Thursday 1 July
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE, 8am - 12pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Plant Hill Clinic, M9 8LX, 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm, AstraZeneca , first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm, (please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm (please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer, first and second doses, and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Friday 2 July
Manchester City Centre, Exchange Square, M3 1BD, 2pm - 6pm, Pfizer first dose only, walk up or call 0161 947 0770 or 0800 092 4020 to book
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE, 4pm - 7pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Newton Heath Health Centre, M40 2JF, 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm, Pfizer first and second doses
The Grange Community Resource Centre, M11 3TQ, Friday 2 July - 9am-1pm, Pfizer first and second dose
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE, 4pm - 7pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen), Pfizer first dose or second dose, and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Saturday 3 July
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE, 10am - 2pm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, first and second doses
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, M22 1QW, 8.30am - 12.50pm, Pfizer, first and second doses
Newton Heath Health Centre, M40 2JF, 9am -1.30pm, Pfizer and AZ first and second doses
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, M22 1QW, 8.30am - 12.50pm, Pfizer 1st and 2nd dose
Irish World Heritage Centre, M8 0AE,10am - 2pm, Pfizer and AZ first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer first dose or second dose and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Sunday 4 July
The Grange Community Resource Centre, M11 3TQ, 9am - 6pm, Pfizer first and second dose
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm, Pfizer first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Tuesday 6 July
Newton Heath Health Centre, M40 2JF, 9am-1pm then 2pm-6pm, Pfizer and AZ first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Thursday 8 July
Newton Heath Health Centre, M40 2JF, 9am -1pm and 2pm - 6pm, Pfizer and AZ first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
Friday 8 July
Newton Heath Health Centre, M40 2JF, 9am -1pm then 2pm - 6pm, Pfizer and AZ first and second doses
Belle Vue Sports Village, M12 5GH, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer first dose or second dose
Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, 9am - 8pm,(please arrive before 7pm to ensure you are seen) Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first dose or second dose
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