Residents at a care home in Bolton have become the first in the borough to receive the Covid-19 vaccine within a care home setting.
Around 75 residents and staff at the Old Vicarage care home, Ivy Bank Road, received their vaccinations on Wednesday, December 30.
Dr Stephen Liversedge, Clinical Director for Primary Care and Health Improvement at Bolton CCG, administered the vaccines to the residents.
He said: “As the link GP for this care home, I wanted to be the one to administer the vaccine. I know a lot of the residents and staff already. I wanted to be able to put them at ease, and answer any queries they may have before receiving the vaccine.”
Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Bolton, and Clinical Director of Commissioning at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Wall, said: “It’s incredible to be able to begin the vaccination of our most vulnerable residents living in care homes. Further vaccination of care homes will commence in the New Year, alongside the continued vaccination of the over 80s.”
This is a gradual roll-out of vaccines, under direction from NHS England, and is subject to last minute changes.
People in the priority groups, including care home residents and staff, are asked to be patient as arrangements are made to include them in the vaccination programme. Care homes and individuals will be contacted by their GP practice in due course.
Patients are encouraged to continue contacting their GP practice for all other health concerns. The Online Consult form can be filled in and submitted at any time and patients will be contacted within 48 hours.
It’s a fantastic Christmas gift for us all to see the first care home residents in Bolton being given the vaccine to protect them from Covid-19.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Andy Morgan, said: “It’s a fantastic Christmas gift for us all to see the first care home residents in Bolton being given the vaccine to protect them from Covid-19.
“Those living in our care homes are among the most at risk from this terrible virus which has claimed so many lives this year. It is only right that this vulnerable group, and the care teams looking after them, are among the first in the queue for this wonderful vaccine which is a miracle of modern science.
“It’s been a tough and challenging year for residents with many of them being unable to see their loved ones in person. Now we have the vaccine this offers us real hope that within the next few months we will be able to return to some kind of normality.
“Most importantly it will save lives. We still face difficult days ahead as we wait for the vaccination programme to be properly rolled out but given time it will truly prove its worth and help us to get this virus under control. I would encourage everyone to have the vaccine to protect themselves and their families.”