A coronavirus vaccine centre is to open in Pateley Bridge next month with the capacity to provide up to 400 inoculations a day.
It will be the fourth vaccination site in the Harrogate district, following in the footsteps of the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, the racecourse at Ripon and the former Lidl in Knaresborough.
Pateley Bridge Pharmacy is behind the plans to open at Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.
The pharmacy led site will use the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine because it is easy to store and transport.
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Samina Khan, who runs Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, told the Stray Ferret that she hopes to be getting jabs in arms by April 6:
“We know that there is a need in rural areas. It took a bit of convincing but NHS England has now given us the go ahead.
“The hall is quite large. When we are up and running we will be able to vaccinate around 400 people a day.
“Pateley Bridge is a real community and it has taken a real community effort to organise.
“The church provided screens, the school provided a car park on weekends and the trustees of the hall has provided space.”
The pharmacy already has a team of medical professionals and volunteers on standby.
However, she asked for retired nurses and doctors who are interested in helping to reach out to Pateley Bridge Pharmacy. Call 01423 711329 if you are able to help.
Ms Khan said some people had complained to her pharmacy ab out having to pay up to £60 for travel to the other vaccine sites.
Chris Henderson, chairman of Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall trustees, said:
“We are delighted that the hall will be put to good use while it is closed for its usual activities.
“Thanks to generous government support, the hall is financially secure and essential maintenance and safety inspections had been carried out.
“It will enable the hall to open safely when allowed to do so.”
