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Oct 2021

Last Updated: 22/10/2021

Health

Harrogate hospital staff shortages delay schools vaccine programme

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 22 Oct, 2021

Harrogate's Ashville College issued a statement today saying its covid vaccination roll-out programme for pupils aged 12-15 has been delayed. Two parents say they have been told the jabs won't now be given until February.

The rollout of covid jabs to 12 to 15-year-old pupils in Harrogate schools has been delayed, amid fears they now won't happen until February.

The government initially said all children in that age group would be offered jabs by half-term, which starts this weekend.

Harrogate's Ashville College issued a statement today saying vaccinations were due to be supplied and administered by the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust childhood immunisations team on school premises.

The independent day and boarding school added:

"Ashville College can confirm there is unfortunately a delay to the roll-out of the 12 to 15-year-old covid vaccinations.

"The college has notified parents of this and will re-organise vaccinations on-site as soon as supplies allow. In the meantime, we have advised parents of pupils aged 12 to 15 to arrange their own vaccination at a drop-in clinic via the NHS website page, 'Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination'."

The college, which was unable to give an estimated start date, blamed the situation on vaccine shortages.

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But a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said this was incorrect. They added:

“Whilst our covid vaccination programme for children aged between 12 and 15 is operating across North Yorkshire and areas in the North East, current staffing capacity has impacted on how soon we can visit some schools.

“We are continuing to develop our timetables and have given all schools a provisional date as to when we will be visiting and will notify them at least one week before our planned visit. Consent packs will be sent to families one week prior to the session. If the opportunity arises, we will look at bringing forward these dates so that we can undertake vaccinations sooner.

“We welcome the recent announcement that parents will now be able to check the NHS National Booking System to see if they can book a covid vaccination for their child at a convenient location, such as a vaccination centre.

“The booking service provides an additional choice alongside the school immunisation programme so that children can be vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Two parents, who asked not to be named, have contacted the Stray Ferret today saying they have been told by their children's schools that vaccines won't be given now until February.

One parent said the Harrogate district's vaccination programme was lagging five months behind other parts of the country.

"Why are we so far behind given that Harrogate is a hotspot for covid cases at the moment? How many young people will unnecessarily develop long covid as a result of these delays?

The district's covid rate was 727 per 100,000 people yesterday — the highest in the county.

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Harrogate hospital staff shortages delay schools vaccine programme

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