With in excess of 4 million people now having had at least one dose of a vaccine to protect against Covid-19, the roll-out programme is well under way to meet the Government target to vaccinate 15 million people in the top four priority groups by 15th February,
Some High Street pharmacies in England began vaccinating people from priority groups last Thursday, with 200 in total due to be providing jabs over the next two weeks. Along with 200 hospitals, 800 GP-led services and 17 mass vaccination centres across England vaccinations are currently being offered at more than 1,000 sites.
Some supermarkets are offering car parks as drive-through centres and conference centres and sports stadiums such as Tottenham Hotspur FC have offered to become a venue for the NHS to provide the vaccine.
Millions of people aged 70 and over and those clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 are being invited to get their vaccinations from Monday 18 January as the NHS begins roll out of the vaccines to the next 2 priority groups – see here for more information.
With Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine Phase-3 clinical trial data expected to be announced before the end of January, followed by an application for Emergency Use Authorization in the US and other countries, another vaccine may soon become available in the market. Unlike other Covid-19 vaccines, which require two doses, the J&J vaccine is a single-shot vaccine, adding a lot of convenience for people taking the shot and government bodies struggling to scale-up the mass rollout. It also greatly simplifies logistics and scalability. The vaccine’s storage temperature requirement is 2-8 degrees Celsius. It is hoped that Johnson & Johnson could deliver the first doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to Europe in April.
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC
Chichester District Council has produced a short guide with information on the different support available for families, including children eligible for free school meal vouchers, plus other areas of support for those affected financially by the Coronavirus Pandemic – please see here.
Keep well and stay safe and if you require assistance with shopping or prescriptions please contact
Fr. Peter Mallinson (Bury) 839057 or Ken & Diana Rowsell (West Burton) 831475
