Besides the GP-run vaccination sites at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground and Ripon Races, nine local pharmacies are also at the forefront of the booster jab campaign.
Harrogate Pharmacy, at the back of Rawcliffe’s on East Parade, is amongst them. It has been offering vaccines since October and has so far delivered 4,000 doses at a rate of one every four minutes.
When the Stray Ferret visited to find out more about the operation, staff told us the past 18 months had been like no other but were adamant they wanted to do their bit to help.
They offer 300 to 450 vaccines per week, which are all administered by one vaccinator.
The pharmacy is now booked up until Christmas but about 10 people a day drop out so staff are happy to take calls inquiring whether there are spaces for walk-ins.
Shaun Davis, superintendent pharmacist, said more pharmacies should provide jabs to meet the government’s goal of offering all over 18s a booster by the end of the month. he said:
“They need to allow more sites to open a centre more easily — why can’t pharmacies who have offered a flu jab for years not offer covid jabs without all the unnecessary red tape? if it was to be made easier it could be a very simple walk-in service in any pharmacy.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Sunday night did not give vaccine sites much time to prepare for the sudden increase in capacity required.
“They can’t announce something yesterday saying you need it to happen today with no infrastructure in place to manage that.
“That kind of knee-jerk response to things is not very considered to me. It’s only around 40% of the population that have had their booster and if you want to get it to a stage of having a real impact on this variant they have to come up with a strategy to do this.”
Harrogate Pharmacy has been open throughout the pandemic. Staff have helped patients when GP surgeries and hospitals have been overwhelmed, as well as giving vaccines.
Charlotte Turnbull, supervisor, said:
“It’s been a lot of pressure. We took a lot of the brunt when a lot of doctors or hospitals were overwhelmed and because we are delivery-only a lot of people moved to us because we can drop it at their doorstep and walk away rather than them having to walk to a busy pharmacy.
“There needs to be more capacity and people on board, if they want all adults booked before new year.”
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Other pharmacies in the Harrogate district offering vaccinations:
- Chain Lane Community Hub – run by Homecare Pharmacy Services
Appointments are available on the NHS app for Thursday December 16 and Friday December 17 8am-6pm, Saturday December 18 8am-3pm, December 20 to 23 8am-8pm, December 28 to 30 8am-8pm and December 31 8am-3pm.
*Some of these dates have been extended today so new appointments are now online to book.
- Pateley Bridge Pharmacy – based at the Bishopside and Bewerley Memorial Hall
Appointments are available on the NHS app for Saturday December 18 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm, Tuesday December 21st 8am-1pm and Thursday December 30 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm.
- Chain Lane Pharmacy, Knaresborough
Appointments are available on the NHS app for Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 5.45pm
- P R Naylor Chemist, Market Place, Knaresborough
Appointments are available on the NHS app Monday to Sunday 9am-1pm, 2pm-4pm and 5pm-6.30pm
- Cohens Chemist, King Edwards Drive, Harrogate
Currently full until New Year
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Leeds Road, Harrogate
No information available at the time
- Well Pharmacy, Wetherby Road, Harrogate
No information available at the time
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Westgate, Ripon
Waiting on vaccine supply, keep an eye on our covid coverage for more information.
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Market Place, Masham
Waiting for official approval then clinic appointments will be made available online. Keep an eye on our covid coverage for more information.