MP thanks NHS staff and volunteers and welcomes progress made on vaccine and mass testing rollout

WITH an estimated 11,000 vaccinations carried out in the town, Warrington South MP Andy Carter has thanked NHS staff and volunteers for their tremendous efforts and says the rollout of vaccinations alongside mass testing is the ‘best chance’ for a return to normality.

Both rapid turnaround coronavirus tests and the vaccination programme have now launched and are well underway across Warrington and Mr Carter says he would welcome 24-hour vaccine centres when supplies allow.
It follows the approval of the Moderna vaccine, which will now be distributed out to vaccination sites, pharmacies, GP practices and hospitals alongside the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines which were previously approved in December.
As of 18 January 2021, the UK has now vaccinated 3.8m people with at least a single dose. In Warrington, around 11,000 vaccinations have now taken place, covering primarily the over 80s and vulnerable groups as well as NHS staff and carers.
Two rapid asymptomatic community testing sites for people who are not displaying coronavirus symptoms also opened in Warrington last week. This testing pilot will help to identify people who are not displaying any coronavirus symptoms but who may still have the virus and could therefore pass it, unknowingly, to others.
The sites, located at Grappenhall Cricket club and the Halliwell Jones Stadium, have been established predominantly to help test those who cannot stay at home under the current restrictions, such as for those who need to go to work or provide care or where work cannot be undertaken from home. There is capacity to conduct hundreds of tests per day, with no booking beforehand required.
Commenting on the progress Mr said: “The local NHS Trust, volunteers and Public Health England have done an absolutely brilliant job over the past weeks to administer vaccines and carry out covid tests across the town.
“Strong progress is being made, around 11,000 people have now received a vaccine in Warrington, which primarily includes the over 80s, vulnerable groups, NHS and care workers. As we move down the priority list, I hope residents will take the opportunity to be vaccinated but stay patient in the meantime as GP practices reach out via a letter or telephone call.
“The vaccine, alongside mass community testing is our best chance of defeating coronavirus, as soon as we have access to sufficient vaccines I would be very happy to see more supermarkets and chemists offering the service around the clock, available to as many people at a time that is convenient,” he added.
There are now over 1,000 GP-led sites providing vaccines nationally as well as 223 hospital sites, seven vaccination centres in places such as sports stadia and exhibition centres and a first wave of community pharmacies.
The government have a list of vaccine sites on the NHS website, so you can check what services are available in the Warrington area. CLICK HERE