Anti-vaccine protest at Harrogate roundabout

About 10 people took part in a demonstration against covid vaccines at a roundabout in Harrogate today.

The group held placards alongside the Prince of Wales roundabout from about 1pm to 3pm.

It is part of a national movement called Rebels on Roundabouts, which co-ordinates similar anti-vaccine protests at roundabouts across the country.

A Rebels on Roundabouts website says it believes ‘the virus has been ruthlessly exploited by a global elite through their puppet politicians and mainstream media’ and is a ‘scapegoat for the inevitable upcoming collapse of the scam economy’.

Those taking part held up signs saying ‘how may vaccines are you going to have before you question it?’. ‘why vaccinate teens?’ and ‘this is not about a virus’.

 A participant from Harrogate, who asked not to be named, said the event was organised by people from Leeds and Otley.

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120 more positive covid cases in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 120 cases of covid, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s 7-day average case rate is 453 per 100,000 people, which is the third-highest rate in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average rate is 417 and the England average is 341.

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

Since the pandemic began 197 people have died with covid at the hospital.

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On Friday the gravity of the staffing crisis in social care was underlined as North Yorkshire County Council launched its biggest ever recruitment drive for the sector.

The number of people applying for social care jobs has plummeted, partly due to the introduction of mandatory vaccines for care staff.

111 positive covid cases in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 111 cases of covid, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s 7-day average case rate is 454 per 100,000 people, which is the third-highest rate in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average rate is 417 and the England average is 341.

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

Since the pandemic began 197 people have died with covid at the hospital.

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118 positive covid cases in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 118 cases of covid, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s 7 day average case rate is 451 per 100,000 people, which is the third-highest rate in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average rate is 413 and the England average is 339.

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

However, two further covid deaths were reported on November 3 and 6. It brings the total since the pandemic began to 197.

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Covid deaths at Harrogate hospital approaching 200 mark

The number of covid deaths at Harrogate District Hospital is approaching the 200 mark as health chiefs look to speed up vaccinations ahead of winter.

The hospital’s toll since the pandemic began currently stands at 195, with the latest death of a patient who died within 28 days of testing positive being reported on Wednesday last week.

However, the number of covid patients receiving treatment at the hospital has fallen slightly from 25 to 24 in the last seven days.

The Harrogate district’s seven-day infection rate has also fallen, from 591 per 100,000 people to 548 today. It remains the highest in North Yorkshire.

It is also above both the county and England averages of 470 and 372 respectively.

Long trips for booster jabs

Booster vaccines are being made available for over 50s and any over 16s with a health condition that puts them at high risk of covid.

The NHS has shortened the length of time between second and third doses – and those eligible can now get vaccinated simply by turning up at a walk-in site.

However, these sites are currently limited in Harrogate with patients being asked to travel to Pateley Bridge or outside of the district as far as Bradford or Batley.

The NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group last week said it was unable to open any more walk-in sites in the area as “all clinics are running at capacity” and that it would do so “as soon as possible”.

A CCG spokesperson said:

“If we open walk-ins now it is likely we would exceed our vaccine allocation and there would be some disappointed people and negative feedback which we are trying to avoid.”

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Appointment-based vaccines are still available to book at local clinics via the national booking system, which also has dedicated slots for 12 to 15-year-olds available at the Homecare Pharmacy site in Knaresborough.

There was an aim to complete the rollout of vaccines to this age group by the start of half-term, however, progress has been slow with less than 20% in the Harrogate district receiving their single dose.

These jabs are being made available at schools but also at other sites including Askham Bar in York, Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, the Northern Echo Arena in Darlington and Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

It was recently announced that Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground will reopen as a vaccine centre for an expected busy period of booster jabs in December.
The venue closed for vaccinations in August but will reopen for two weeks at the start of next month.

 

96 daily covid cases reported in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 96 daily covid cases according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day average now stands at 601 per 100,000 people.

Across North Yorkshire, the rate is 505 and the England average is 400.

NHS England figures on the number of patients who have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus are no longer published on a weekend.

However, the hospital was treating 25 covid patients as of Monday — a rise from 19 on last week.

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132 positive covid cases in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 132 cases of covid, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s average now stands at 601 per 100,000 people, which remains the highest in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average rate is 505 and the England average is 400.

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

However, the hospital was treating 25 covid patients as of Monday — a rise from 19 on last week.

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Meanwhile, Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has questioned why school vaccinations in Harrogate are not likely to happen until February.

The Stray Ferret reported last month that the rollout of covid jabs to 12 to 15-year-old pupils in Harrogate schools has been delayed, after the government initially said all children in that age group would be offered jabs by October half-term.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Jones said vaccinating children five months later in February would be “too late”.

Andrew Jones MP queries delay of covid vaccinations in schools

Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has questioned why school vaccinations in Harrogate are not likely to happen until February.

The Stray Ferret reported last month that the rollout of covid jabs to 12 to 15-year-old pupils in Harrogate schools has been delayed, after the government initially said all children in that age group would be offered jabs by October half-term.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Jones said vaccinating children five months later in February would be “too late”.

He said:

“I am hearing mixed messages about what is happening in schools. The CCG has told me that they should be eligible for visits by the end of this month, but some schools have been reporting that they are not looking at visits until January or February next year by which stage, of course, it is too late.”

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Mr Jones also asked if there is a problem with the supply of vaccines in the Harrogate district. He said the nearest walk-in centre for residents is 17 miles away in Halifax.

NHS officials have said they are unable to open any walk-in covid vaccination centres in Harrogate because clinics are already running at capacity.

Mr Jones said:

“If I look at the website on the location of walk-in centres and tap in Harrogate, it brings up five locations in Halifax, which is about 17 miles away. Are there any problems with vaccine supply, or are we having some difficulties in North Yorkshire at the moment?”

In response, Department for Health junior minister Maggie Thorpe MP said “there is no problem at all with the supply of vaccines”.

“I can reassure my hon. Friend that there is no problem at all with the supply of vaccines; we have plenty of supply. He talks about schools. The vaccine programme in schools is being carried out by the school-aged immunisation service, which is very experienced in carrying out vaccinations for different conditions in schools. If there is a problem in his area, I will definitely look into it on his behalf.”

No Harrogate district walk-in vaccine centres as clinics ‘at capacity’

Health officials say they are unable to open any walk-in covid vaccination centres in Harrogate because clinics are already running at capacity.

The announcement on Monday that booster jabs were being made available without appointments caused some confusion as no Harrogate district sites appeared on the NHS online walk-in finder.

Those eligible for their third jabs were being sent to the nearest sites in Leeds or Middlesbrough, although a centre in Pateley Bridge has since appeared online.

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group has now explained that it is unable to open any more walk-in sites in the area due to capacity and supply issues.

A CCG spokesperson said:

“All clinics are running at capacity and we will open walk-ins in a planned way as soon as we are able to.

“If we open walk-ins now it is likely we would exceed our vaccine allocation and there would be some disappointed people and negative feedback, which we are trying to avoid.”

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Appointment-based vaccines for over-50s and those with underlying health conditions are still available to book at local clinics via the national booking system.

Dedicated slots for 12 to 15-year-olds are also available at the Homecare Pharmacy site in Knaresborough.

These jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds are also being offered at schools and outside the district at the Askham Bar site in York, Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, the Northern Echo Arena in Darlington and Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

New sites ‘as soon as possible’

The CCG said it was looking to add additional sites across North Yorkshire “as soon as possible”.

It was announced last week that Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground will reopen as a vaccine centre for an expected busy period of booster jabs in December.

The venue – which was used as a vaccine site for most of the year before closing in August – will reopen for two weeks at the start of the month.

Public Health England figures show a total of 130,898 people in the Harrogate district have received their first vaccine dose and 122,140 people their second.

No figures are available for booster jabs.

Vaccine take up is lowest among 12 to 15-year-olds with just 18% receiving their single dose.

The CCG said everyone in this age group will be offered their vaccine by the end of November.

Harrogate district reports 109 covid cases as hospitalisations rise

The Harrogate district reported another 109 cases of covid today, according to latest figures.

The infection rate has dropped to 552 per 100,000 people — the highest in the county, but lower than the 740 mark achieved on October 16.

The county average is 499 and the England rate stands at 416.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

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However, the hospital was treating 25 covid patients as of Monday — a rise from 19 on last week.

Russell Nightingale, chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said the increase in covid patients was still putting increased pressure on the hospital ahead of winter which is “always a challenging time”.

He said: 

“The vaccine programme has undoubtedly had a big impact and we are seeing far fewer covid patients in intensive care with severe symptoms.

“However, as we are now mixing more compared to this time last year, there is the potential that covid infections will continue to rise and we will start to see an increase in the number of patients with other respiratory viruses.

“Whilst most covid restrictions have now been lifted, the virus has not gone away.

“We would encourage people to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, and have their booster if they are eligible.”