NHS confirms Covid jab now offered at every eligible care home in Preston and Lancashire

In a major milestone for the NHS vaccination programme, nurses, GPs and other NHS staff have now offered the life-saving jab to every eligible care home with older residents in Lancashire.

A small remainder of homes have had their visits deferred by local directors of public health for safety reasons during a local outbreak. Those homes will be visited and jabbed as soon as NHS staff are allowed to do so.

Vaccination staff are also returning to homes that have been covered to jab any resident who was unable to have it during the previous visit because they had recently had Covid or for other clinical reasons.

Covid-19 Vaccination Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria Jane Scattergood, said: “I want to thank everyone involved in the vaccine rollout for their hard work and dedication in recent weeks, as it is because of their tireless efforts that thousands of people have already been vaccinated, including care home residents, and as a result, we are a vital step further in our fight against Covid-19.

“I am delighted with the progress made to vaccinate some of the most vulnerable people and the wonderful people who look after them. Many have had little contact with the outside world throughout the pandemic and so it has been truly humbling for all, giving them hope and importantly protection against the disease.

“I would urge anyone who is offered the vaccine to come forward.”

The Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI), who set the priority groups for vaccination, made older adult care home residents and their staff high priority groups due to being at particular risk from Covid-19 because of their age and frailty.

NHS England offered GPs up to £30 extra to vaccinate care home residents in January to cover the increased time and logistics required in bringing the vaccine to care homes.Vaccinations are now being administered at more than 11 hospitals, over 36 GP-led services, three High Street pharmacies and 5 large-scale vaccination centres across Lancashire and South Cumbria with more coming online over the coming days and weeks.

See where vaccinations are being delivered near you

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lancashire and South Cumbria, including how to get involved, visit the Covid Vaccination website.