More than 180,000 covid vaccinations given in Harrogate district

More than 180,000 covid vaccinations have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

A total of 107,899 people have received a first dose and 73,644 have had second doses, according to Public Health England figures.

It means 181,543 vaccinations have been given in total.

Meanwhile, seven further covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,788.

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The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 21 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 17 and the England rate is 34.

Harrogate district records highest daily covid infections for two months

Nine covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district today — the highest daily number for more than two months.

Today’s figure, by Public Health England, ts the highest since March 23 when 12 were reported.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 7,781.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

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However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result is removed.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the covid death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 17 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 14 and the England rate is 32.

Covid infections ‘creeping up’, say North Yorkshire health officials

Health officials say there are early signs covid infection levels are “creeping up” in North Yorkshire, although rates remain low, ahead of the key decision on whether to end all restrictions on June 21.

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, told a briefing today that the county was “giving every inch of its fibre” to fully unlock on that date but a small rise in cases needed to be brought “under control”.

Harrogate, Scarborough, Hambleton and Craven all saw a slight increase in weekly infection rates at the end of May, while Richmondshire and Selby recorded a decline and Ryedale remained without a single case.

Meanwhile, the number of people hospitalised with covid across the county remains low at 10, while more than 494,000 people have now received their first vaccine and 339,000 their second.

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Speaking at today’s North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum briefing, Mr Webb said:

“We are unfortunately seeing some creeping up of the figures nationally and locally. The overall average position across North Yorkshire is 14 cases per 100,000 – that has crept up slightly as has the England average of 32.

“We need to get this under control and manageable going forward so that we can unlock further on June 21.

“The decision is in the hands of the national politicians and they have very clearly said they are going to look at data which comes through in the next fortnight.

“But we can have real confidence in vaccinations – there are very high levels of take up in North Yorkshire and we want everyone possible to have those two doses as that is our best defence against current and previous variants of this virus.”

Indian variant

Today’s briefing also heard how the so-called Indian variant of covid, now known as Delta, was still in “small numbers” in North Yorkshire and had not become the dominant strain unlike some areas of the country.

Areas including Bolton, Blackburn and Bedford have seen a large spike in cases of the more transmissible variant which has led to some concerns that there could be a delay to the end of all lockdown restrictions set to be decided by ministers on 14 June.

With this recent rise in cases, the next week or two will be crucial in seeing whether and by how much it pushes up the numbers of hospital admissions and deaths.

The difference this time – compared with previous waves – is the vaccine, which should be breaking the link between infection and illness.

Mr Webb added:

“The big game changer here is the vaccination rollout which has been so successful, but we have seen flare-ups in other parts of the country and we still need to be a bit cautious.

“I have talked before about living with covid – we are going to have to adjust as a society to having these flare-ups.

“Hands, face, space and fresh air – they are all really important. If we continue to do that and get our vaccines then these are the best things we can do to stop the spread of this virus.”

The latest Public Health England data shows Scarborough had an infection rate of 24 cases per 100,000 people on May 29, while the figure for Harrogate stood at 17, Craven 16, Selby 13, Hambleton 13, Richmondshire 4 and Ryedale 0.

Total number of vaccinations given in Harrogate district near 180,000

The total number of covid vaccinations given in the Harrogate district has nearly reached 180,000.

A total of 107,633 people have received a first dose in the district and 71,515 have had second doses, according to Public Health England figures.

It means 179,148 vaccinations have been given in total.

Meanwhile, five further covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,772.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

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No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 16 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 13 and the England rate is 31.

Harrogate district reports three more covid cases

Three further covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district.

According to latest Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,754.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

Read more:

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 13 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 13 and the England rate is 25.

Confusion and queues over covid jab appointments

People in their 30s have been left confused about where to get a covid vaccination in the Harrogate district, with reports of long queues at the Knaresborough site.

This week the NHS announced the vaccination programme was being rolled out to 30 and 31-year-olds, who were able to book a jab through the national appointment service from Wednesday May 26.

One reader described the scene at the Knaresborough site this morning as “absolute chaos” with a long queue of people down the road, waiting to get in.

She said she had an appointment but was told she would need to wait for about an hour and a half, or could come back later when another pharmacist would be available.

Steve Culleton, an estate marshal at the Knaresborough site, apologised for the delay and said once people were checked into the venue, the aim was to get them jabbed and through to the observation area in three minutes.

Longer waits outside were due to a staff shortage, incidents on site that took staff away from the flow of vaccinations, and a higher than usual number of people turning up with incorrect appointment times, he said, noting that roadworks in the town had not helped.

Mr Culleton said that the pharmacists and other site staff were not involved with bookings, which were all made through the NHS 119 and National Booking Service.

He said:

“I’ve seen 1,100 people today. The overwhelming sentiment from all of them is ‘thank you very much, we appreciate it’.

“It’s a mixture of people turning up outside their appointment times, [booking] glitches and the lack of a full complement of staff.

“We are genuinely sorry that people had to wait, because that is not what we want. We just want people to come in, be jabbed, be observed and go.

“We want people to have a positive experience and go home happy. We know that there will be a few who are unhappy and for that I wholeheartedly apologise. It’s not what they expected, it’s not what we expected but it’s the way today turned out.”

Some people in their early 30s said they found that sites in Harrogate and Knaresborough were fully booked for several days, forcing them to book in Leeds, Pateley Bridge or Bradford.

After making alternative plans, two readers told the Stray Ferret that they received text invites from their GP surgery to make appointments directly due to “extra” supplies of the Pfizer vaccine.

A spokesman for NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said there were two ways to get an appointment, depending on whether vaccination sites were administered by GPs or the NHS National Booking Service.

He said:

“The Harrogate and Ripon vaccination sites are administered by GP practices – and sit outside of the National Booking Service processes.

“Practices are contacting eligible patients, directly, though quite a lot of activity at the moment is fulfilling second-dose obligations.”

He explained the Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge sites were part of the NHS National Booking Service infrastructure and not linked to the CCG or general practices.

NHS England North East and Yorkshire said:

“On occasion, appointment slots can be booked up quickly and thus won’t appear in the list of options online. More appointments are added regularly, so people are advised to try again later if they can’t or would rather not travel to another venue.”

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More than 105,000 first doses of a covid vaccine have now been given in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England.

A total of 105,579 first and 69,241 second vaccines have been administered in the district.

It means the take-up rate in the district stands at 74.3% for a first dose and 48.7% for a second dose.

Five further covid cases in Harrogate district

Five further covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district.

According to latest Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,751.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

Read more:

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 13 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 12 and the England rate is 25.

Dominic Cummings’ claims ‘for the birds’, says Ripon MP

Ripon and Skipton MP Julian Smith has said the explosive claims by Dominic Cummings about government mistakes during covid should not be taken too seriously.

Speaking at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting today, Mr Smith said any notions that the former adviser to Boris Johnson was acting as an “objective observer” in his evidence to the government’s health and science committees yesterday was “for the birds”.

Mr Smith said:

“I did not get on particularly well with Mr Cummings in government – in my view, he is not an objective observer

“Having said that, obviously he makes an important point but I agree that this should be in the context of a whole range of other witnesses who have views.

“But the idea that he is objective about this is obviously for the birds.”

During a marathon seven-hour evidence session yesterday, Mr Cummings made a series of allegations about the government’s response to the pandemic and painted a picture of chaos and disarray within Number 10.

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He said thousands of people died needlessly as a result of government mistakes and that the Prime Minister was “unfit for the job”, claiming he had ignored scientific advice and wrongly delayed lockdowns.

He also claimed Matt Hancock should have been fired for lying – something denied by the health secretary.

Mr Cummings said:

“The truth is that senior ministers, senior officials, senior advisers like me fell disastrously short of the standards that the public has a right to expect of its government in a crisis like this.

“I would like to say to all the families of those who died unnecessarily how sorry I am for the mistakes that were made and for my own mistakes at that.”

Mr Smith’s reaction to the revelations followed comments from West Skipton Independent county councillor Andy Salloway, who told today’s North Yorkshire County Council Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee that he believed any evidence about the government’s handling of the virus outbreak should only be heard once it is over.

Cllr Salloway said Mr Cumming’s allegations yesterday were a “complete distraction” from the pressures of the pandemic still at hand.

He said:

“We are still in a pandemic and surely the time to have a review of things is after the pandemic is done, not during it. It is a bit of an insult to all the people who have worked extremely hard to get us through this.”

Boris Johnson previously announced a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic is to be launched in spring 2022 when more officials will be called as witnesses to give evidence.

The inquiry will aim to answer key questions such as why did the pandemic happen, who is to blame and what can be done to prevent it happening again.

The exact aims and remit will be announced closer to the start of the inquiry next year.

First covid vaccine tally in Harrogate district soars to 105,000

More than 105,000 first doses of a covid vaccine have now been given in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England.

A total of 105,518 first and 68,854 second vaccines have been administered in the district.

It means the take-up rate in the district stands at 74% for a first dose and 48% for a second dose.

in other covid news today, two more cases of the infection have been reported in the Harrogate district.

According to Public Health England, 7,746 cases have been recorded since the start of the pandemic.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

Read more:

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

North Yorkshire’s covid vaccine ‘success’ to be examined

Public health bosses are to examine why North Yorkshire’s covid vaccine uptake is significantly above the national average.

They will use the findings to tackle concerns over declining uptake of other jabs, such as MMR and meningitis.

North Yorkshire County Council‘s director of public health Louise Wallace told a meeting of the council’s executive one focus would be on whether transport and the location of vaccination centres had made it easy for residents to access Pfizer and Astra-Zeneca vaccines used in the county.

She was speaking just two days after the authority announced it would close vaccination sites at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground and Ripon Racecourse in August, saying mobile vaccination units would help to target areas reporting a sudden surge in covid cases.

A report to the meeting stated some 64.98% of the county’s population, excluding children, have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine, compared to the average rate across England of 53.38%.

The council and the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum have been providing logistical support around venues, transportation, volunteers and waste disposal for the vaccination programme, which is being overseen by the multi-agency North Yorkshire and York Vaccination Assurance Group, chaired by Ms Wallace.

The group aims to identify where there may be low levels in vaccine uptake and implement interventions to ensure equity in the vaccination rollout across North Yorkshire and York.

After hearing of the relatively high rate of covid vaccine uptake in the county,  the council’s Scrutiny of Health Committee chairman Councillor John Ennis asked whether officials would use the lessons learned as a springboard to tackle recognised low take-up rates of other vaccinations in the county, such as MMR.

The latest NHS digital figures, which were published in September 2019, show while coverage had continued to decline in all routine vaccinations across the country, North Yorkshire had a lower uptake than a number of its neighbours.

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The county’s vaccination uptake rate for the two-dose MMR vaccine stood at 89% compared to 96% in County Durham and close to 95% in areas such as north Lincolnshire and Barnsley.

Medics have warned falling childhood immunisation rates risk a resurgence of deadly and life-changing diseases of the past. Public health experts have advised successful vaccination programmes need a “system-wide approach” saying services had become “fragmented” since changes were made to public health commissioning in 2012.

While Ms Wallace’s predecessor last year warned the county’s public health services were facing difficult choices due to cuts in Government funding, she told the meeting she would be prioritising vaccination programmes.

She said the authority had used its experiences from previous vaccination programmes, such as flu and MMR, to maximise coverage with the covid vaccine.

Ms Wallace said:

“We will be taking some of the lessons that we’ve learnt and looking at why this vaccination programme has got quite a high uptake overall

“We have got quite a lot of learning as to why people bought into this and we will be looking at why some people have vaccine hesitancy and try and myth-bust.”