A Harrogate charity is preparing to lend its support to the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.
Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) is set to offer drivers to transport people to vaccination appointments.
The drivers and other local volunteers will be part of what has been described by Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, as “one of the biggest civilian projects in history”.
The nearest site to have confirmed to have received the first wave of Pfizer vaccines is the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, whose hospitals include Leeds General Infirmary. On Saturday the NHS announced that a small number of GP practices will then follow from December 14th.
HADCA is now preparing drivers and staff to help to provide transport for people who have no other means of transport to where ever the vaccines are being given.
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A spokesperson for the charity said:
“We are working hard to put everything in place to be ready to take people to have their vaccinations when they are called to do so.
“A small team of voluntary car drivers will offer transport to those passengers without other means of transport and who would be suitable to use our service.”
The charity said people would need to be able to get in and out of the back of a passenger vehicle independently in order to use the service.
Richard Flinton, chair of the North Yorkshire Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, said earlier this week that it was supporting the NHS and local partners in preparing to offer the vaccine.
He said:
“Working together with all the partners, we will ensure that the facilities and resources, which are required to support the roll-out of vaccines, are in place here. We have a strong track record in North Yorkshire of responding well to emergencies and we are already driving forward these plans together at pace.
“A vaccine has been both long-awaited and anticipated, so whatever needs to be done will be done. This programme will be led by the NHS and we look forward to further information in the coming days.”
The government has said it expects vaccinations to start this week, with elderly people in care homes and care home staff among the highest priority.
A total of 800,000 doses are expected to be distributed, but it is unclear how many will be awarded to each local area.
