More than half take-up booster jab in Harrogate district

More than half of those eligible for a booster jab in the Harrogate district have had a vaccine, according to latest government figures.

UK Health Security Agency data shows that the percentage uptake for those aged 12 and over currently stands at 54%.

A total of 83,790 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district as of today.

Across the district, 2,327 booster jabs were given yesterday, as the vaccination programme is accelerated.

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Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 137 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has fallen to 377 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 372 and the England rate is 553.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show eight covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate council plans environment festival in new year

Harrogate Borough Council is planning to host a festival across the district in the new year to raise awareness of climate change.

The project, which has a working title of Winter Festival, looks set to take place in February 2022, according to a contract advertised by the authority.

The event is expected to involve street performance and art installations.

Stockport-based Maynineteen Ltd has been given the £50,000 contract to lead the project.

The events company has been tasked with coming up with ideas that “generate footfall and interest” in Harrogate, Ripon, Masham, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge.

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A spokesperson for the council said more details on the event would be revealed in the new year.

The spokesperson added:

“The Winter Festival is a working title for a project which is likely to change. 

“The project aims to raise awareness of the global climate change and environmental issues we are all facing. It will involve art installations and street performances, for example, and we’ll have some exciting news in the new year.”

Council officials said the contract has been paid for through the government’s Welcome Back Fund, which was designed to “promote a safe environment for local trade and tourism, particularly in high streets as their economies reopen”.

In April, the government granted the borough council £144,714 as part of the fund.

Council reveals Christmas and New Year bin collection times

Christmas and New Year bin collection dates have been announced by Harrogate Borough Council.

The new arrangements cover the period between December 20 and January 14 when residents’ rubbish and recycling will be collected on earlier or later dates depending on their usual slots.

There will be no collections on December 27 and 28, or January 3.

The festive period is a busy time for collection crews with more waste being produced than any other time of year.

A lot of this waste can be recycled or reused, so residents are being urged by the council to make an extra effort and recycle all that they can this Christmas and New Year.

Cllr Andy Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling at the council, said:

“It may not be the number one priority for some residents during the festive period. But this year there will be changes to waste and recycling collections.

“Some collections will be earlier so I’d urge residents to check their waste and ensure it is presented before 7am on collection day.

“I’d also like to encourage residents to recycle as much as possible by checking what can and can’t be recycled.”

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Collections will be made on the following dates:

What can be recycled?

Collection crews don’t usually accept materials that won’t fit in a black box or blue bag, but they will take this extra recycling over the festive period.

Residents will need to sort these extra items in clear plastic bags so crews can see what is inside.

Items that can’t be recycled at the kerbside – including electrical items and toys – can be taken to one of the three household waste recycling centres in the Harrogate district.

The sites on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane, and Ripon’s Dallamires Crescent, will be open between 8.30am and 4pm everyday except Wednesdays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Anyone who is unsure about their usual collection dates should go to www.harrogate.gov.uk/inmyarea

Fun activities at Christmas for children in North Yorkshire revealed

Events are set to take place this Christmas to teach children and young people new skills.

Called the FEASTive programme, it will see activities and event days taking place in each North Yorkshire district over the festive season.

The activities include a stop-motion animation workshop in Knaresborough, where children can learn how to make a short, festive film; as well as workshops where children can learn how to make their own Christmas dinner and Christmas gifts.

The events are funded by the Department for Education’s holiday activities and food programme, which recognises that school holidays can put additional pressures on family finances due to increased food and childcare costs.

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North Yorkshire County Council commissioned North Yorkshire Together, a partnership between Rural Arts, North Yorkshire Sport and North Yorkshire Youth, to run the programme in the county under the banner of FEAST North Yorkshire.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, Executive Member for Education and Skills said: 

“We know the pandemic has presented many mental, physical and financial difficulties for families, children and young people. To be able to offer children healthy meals, fun activities and chances to socialise and learn new skills is vitally important.”

The sessions are open to all children and young people in North Yorkshire, but are free to those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. They include a free hot meal or packed lunch.

Eligible families have received an information pack, along with a booklet with ideas for activities and things to do over the school holidays.

For more information on the Christmas activities, visit the North Yorkshire Together website.

Harrogate district booster vaccines take-up reaches 80,000

More than 80,000 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.

Across the district, 2,380 booster jabs were given yesterday, as the vaccination programme is accelerated.

Today, staff at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground confirmed it has expanded its capacity to 2,000 jabs a day.

UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 81,463 booster and third vaccines have been given in the district so far.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 87 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

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The Harrogate district’s covid rate has fallen to 378 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 368 and the England rate is 536.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show nine covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

77,000 booster vaccines given so far in Harrogate district

More than 77,000 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.

The government announced on Monday that all adults aged over-18 will be offered a booster jab before the end of this month in an effort to tackle the Omicron variant.

UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 77,256 booster and third vaccines have been given in the district so far.

Health bosses in Harrogate confirmed today that a vaccination centre will be set up at Harrogate District Hospital as part of the ongoing rollout of booster jabs.

It will provide another booster option for over-18s, who can currently receive jabs at the GP-run Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races or one of several pharmacy sites in the district.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 109 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

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Weekly data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that five suspected cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in the district.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate now stands at 392 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 372 and the England rate is 521.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show nine covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Final full Harrogate council meeting of 2021 cancelled over covid concerns

Harrogate Borough Council has cancelled its final full meeting of the year due to covid concerns.

All 40 councillors plus staff were due to attend the meeting at the council’s Civic Centre in Harrogate tomorrow, but a spokesperson has now announced it has been cancelled as there would have been “difficulties to social distance”.

Although social distancing rules were lifted earlier this year, current government guidance says people should still “consider the risks of close contact”.

The council has only held two full council meetings in-person in 2021 – one in July at Harrogate Convention Centre and one in October at the Civic Centre.

All others have either been held online or cancelled.

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Early in the pandemic, the government changed legislation on council meetings so that they could be held online.

However, these rules were changed in summer when all council meetings legally had to be held in person again.

Among the items that were due to be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting was an update on the performance of Harrogate Convention Centre, as well as a call for some public buildings to be handed over to parish councils under local government reorganisation.

The council spokesperson said: 

“Given the difficulties to social distance in the chamber, and the short notice to try and arrange another venue, the meeting of the council has been cancelled.”

Vaccination centre to open at Harrogate hospital

A vaccination centre is set to open at Harrogate District Hospital this weekend as part of the ramping up of covid booster vaccines.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed today that it hopes the site will open on Saturday.

It will provide another booster option for over-18s, who can currently receive jabs at the GP-run Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races or one of several pharmacy sites in the district.

Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“The trust is responding as quickly as possible to the national ask to rapidly expand and support the covid-19 booster programme.

“We are currently establishing a vaccination centre for the public at Harrogate District Hospital where we can provide them with covid-19 booster vaccinations.

“The centre is aiming to be open from Saturday, December 18, and members of the public can book their vaccination via the national booking service.”

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Following the announcement of the speed-up in the booster programme, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the House of Commons that some non-urgent and elective surgery “may be postponed until the new year”.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust whether any non-urgent appointments would be delayed as part of the booster vaccine programme.

In response, Dr Shepherd said:

“We are also reviewing our services to see what treatment we could potentially defer for a few weeks to provide more staff to the community vaccination programme.

“Currently we are not considering delays to surgery, urgent or cancer work. We will of course keep any disruption as minimal as possible and will contact any patients as soon as we can if their care is going to be deferred in any way.”

‘Tidal wave of Omicron’

News that the hospital will provide vaccines follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcement on Monday that every adult in Britain will be offered a booster jab by the end of December, as he warned there was a “tidal wave of Omicron coming”.

As part of the effort, the showground site has extended walk-in booster jabs until Christmas Eve.

The showground site, which is run by Yorkshire Health Network, a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, is also offering walk-in clinics for 12 to 18-year-olds from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow and 2pm to 4pm on Monday next week.

So far, 74,680 booster vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district, according to government figures.

Harrogate gallery organises charity Christmas tree for refugees

A Harrogate gallery has set up a charity Giving Tree in aid of children from Syria and Afghanistan.

Watermark Gallery has organised the Christmas tree, which is decorated with a tag for each of the 73 refugee children in the Harrogate district.

Anyone who would like to support the project is being asked to take a tag and buy a gift of up to £20 suitable for the age and gender given.

Two-year-old Agatha (pictured above) was the first to buy a gift.

Anna Martola, from Watermark Gallery who has organised the project, said:

“We were struck by how much these families have been through and wanted to do something positive and creative to help welcome them to our region.

“These children have so little and will be surrounded by others who are receiving so much.”

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The gallery is working with Ripon City of Sanctuary, a charity that supports families throughout the Harrogate district, many of whom have recently arrived from Syria and Afghanistan.

For those who are not able to buy their own gift, the gallery is taking donations and will buy on their behalf. It is also donating colouring books and coloured pencils to each family. 

A spokesperson for Ripon City of Sanctuary said:

“We are so delighted that Watermark Gallery has chosen Ripon City of Sanctuary as their charity this year. It is such a positive and welcoming project and we know just how grateful our families will be”.

Anyone wishing to donate a gift is asked to do so before December 18 to give the charity time to distribute them out to each family. 

Watermark Gallery can be contacted on 01423 562659 or in person at 8 Royal Parade, Harrogate, HG1 2SZ.

Walk-in boosters at Great Yorkshire Showground extended to Christmas Eve

Walk-in booster vaccinations will be available at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground until at least Christmas Eve, health bosses have confirmed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night announced that every adult in Britain will be offered a covid booster jab by the end of December, as he warned there was a “tidal wave of Omicron coming”.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group has since confirmed that people over-18 will be able to get a jab at the showground without an appointment until December 24.

Staff at Yorkshire Health Network, a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, also said today the showground site was offering walk-in clinics for 12 to 18-year-olds from 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday and 2pm to 4pm on Monday next week.

On Christmas Eve, the vaccination site will be open from 9am until 11.30am.

Booked appointments

All adults will also be able to book appointments on the NHS national booking service from Wednesday.

Those who choose to book will be given appointments at either the Yorkshire Event Centre, Knaresborough’s Chain Lane pharmacy, Ripon racecourse or other pharmacy sites in the district.

So far, 74,680 booster vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district, according to government figures.

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70 infections today

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 70 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that five suspected cases of the omicron variant have been reported in the district.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate now stands at 407 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 382 and the England rate is 515.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show nine covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.