All of Tameside’s vulnerable housebound residents aged over 70 who were willing and able have received their first Covid-19 vaccine.
NHS workers have been visiting people in their own homes who were unable to attend vaccination centres to give them the jab.
The rollout of the coronavirus vaccine across Tameside and Glossop has seen every care home resident and staff members, the over-70s and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals all offered the vaccine.
The clinical commissioning group co-chairs Dr Asad Ali and Dr Ashwin Ramachandra said: “People who are housebound often rely on visits from health and care professionals, carers, friends and family members to bring medication, supplies and support, meaning a number of different people are regularly entering their home and potentially bringing the virus in with them.
“Given their vulnerability, we needed to vaccinate these patients as soon as possible to ensure that if they do inadvertently come into contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive, they are protected against becoming severely unwell.
“We’re proud of our colleagues who have gone the extra mile to visit people that need the vaccine the most on top of continuing our usual vaccine programme.”
Chiefs anticipate that by the end of April all of the priority groups 1 to 9, which includes all over-50s and adults aged 18-65 in at-risk groups, will have received the jab, dependent on vaccine delivery.
People aged 70 and over are now being told to directly contact their GP or the NHS to ensure they get their vaccination by the middle of February.
Cabinet member for adult social care and population health, Councillor Eleanor Wills said she was ‘delighted’ that they were able to provide protection for all currently eligible housebound residents who were ‘able and consented’.
“Age is the strongest determinant for becoming seriously ill or dying from contracting coronavirus and so we must do absolutely everything we can to protect our most vulnerable first and foremost,” she added.
“Until now the NHS has asked people to wait until they are contacted to help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected first – and that remains the case for most people.
“However, I now urge everyone in Tameside and Glossop aged 70 and over to now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated by the middle of this month.”
“No-one will be left behind in our drive to offer the vaccine across Tameside and Glossop and we will soon be extending the programme further to more of the nine priority groups who should await their invitation before contacting the NHS.”
The CCG has established a series of vaccine hubs run by GP-led primary care networks.
These are based at Hyde, Ashton, Glossop, Denton and Stalybridge, with vaccinations taking place as soon as doses are delivered.
