Harrogate’s covid vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground will close next week.
The site is set to shut after two years of operation.
More than 250,000 vaccinations have been carried out at the centre, 30,000 of which have come during the autumn booster campaign.
The vaccination site will close on Wednesday, November 23.
Cath Dixon, clinical lead at the Yorkshire Health Network which runs the clinics, said:
“This has been a monumental team effort by all concerned over the last almost two years. We are extremely grateful to the staff at the events centre for their support and flexibility especially when events returned and they continued to support the vaccination programme while also delivering business as usual. They have been amazing partners during this whole process and we can’t thank them enough.
“We also owe huge thanks to our army of volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep the site operational in all weathers including the pouring rain and significant falls of snow, always willingly and cheerfully.”
Vaccinations will continue to be offered to those eligible until November 23.
The site will be open from 8.15am until 5.30pm each day, apart from Sunday when it will be closed.
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People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.
However, first and second doses will also be available. A clinic for those aged five to 11 will be held on Friday after school and all day Saturday.
Those aged between 12 and 17 will also be offered vaccinations this Saturday afternoon until 5.30pm.
Those eligible for a vaccine can book via the NHS website or walk-in appointments are available.
Ms Dixon added:
Vaccine sites in Harrogate district gearing up for spring boosters“We are here till 23 November and would encourage anyone who has been invited to have a covid vaccination but has not yet come forward to book a jab before the site closes.
“Covid is still circulating in our communities and we still have people in hospital with this virus so please take advantage of the opportunity to protect yourself and those around you and stay well this winter.”
Vaccination sites in the Harrogate district are preparing to get busy again following the announcement of spring booster jabs.
Covid clinics in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge have wound down or paused since December.
But that is about to change after the government said people aged 75 and over, care home residents and people with weakened immune systems can now book fourth jabs.
Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, operates sites at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races.
The showground will have its next clinic from 8.30am to 5pm on April 1.
The Ripon Races site.
Dates at Ripon Races are being finalised so they don’t clash with horse race meetings.
Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, said:
“We anticipate uptake to be high in the 75 and overs as Harrogate has a large population in that cohort.”
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Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge
Homecare Pharmacy Services’ site in Knaresborough.
Homecare Pharmacy’ Service‘s vaccination site at Chain Lane in Knaresborough is to add Monday covid clinics to its existing Friday and Saturday clinics. Bookings are encouraged to avoid having to wait.
Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, which paused its vaccination programme in December, plans to start again soon.
Samina Khan, who owns the pharmacy, said:
“I think we will restart in April, with bookings from March 25, but we are still finalising details.”
Infections rocketing
It comes as infection rates continue to soar in the Harrogate district.
The seven-day infection rate is now 885 per 100,000 people. It was 343 at the start of the month.
It is the highest rate in North Yorkshire and above the England rate of 833.
Harrogate West and Pannal Ash is the worst affected area in the county. It has recorded 135 positive cases in the last seven days.
Harrogate and Ripon vaccination sites hit 200,000 jab milestoneThe GP-run vaccination sites in Harrogate and Ripon administered their 200,000th covid jab in the last week.
The figure applies to vaccines given at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races, which are operated by the Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district
When pharmacy vaccines are also included, the total number of jabs in the Harrogate district since the start of the pandemic comes to 374,994.
Ripon Races held its final vaccination clinic on Sunday. The Great Yorkshire Showground is due to close in March.
The information comes as the number of covid infections in the district continues to fall rapidly.
The latest daily UK Health Security Agency figures show that 100 covid cases have been reported in the last 24 hours.
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Currently the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 531 per 100,000 people.
It remains above the county-wide average 412 and the England rate of 417.
NHS England figures show the number of deaths from patients who tested positive for covid at Harrogate District Hospital stands at 228.
Harrogate covid vaccination centre set to close in MarchHarrogate’s covid vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground is set to close next month.
The site, along with the vaccination centre at Ripon Races, is run by Yorkshire Health Network, a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district.
The final jabs will be administered at Ripon Races tomorrow. The clinic will be open to people aged 12 and over and walk-ins will be accepted between 8.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-5pm.
The showground site will continue until March 12.
The site first opened in December 2020 to support the first vaccination rollout and administered 117,000 jabs in its first six months of operation.
It reopened in December 2021 as part of the covid booster campaign.
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- Exclusive: Great Yorkshire Showground gave 117,000 vaccines in six months
- Meet the showground heroes boosting Harrogate’s vaccine programme
Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, confirmed that the site would close on March 12. He said:
“After March 12 we will be offering a scaled back service on more of an ad-hoc basis, hopefully still at the showground.”
Vaccinations at the site will continue until March, with walk-in appointments available.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Health Network added:
“Vaccination clinics are due to be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre until at least the middle of March,
“However, with some adults and vulnerable children likely to still require access to the covid vaccine, the Yorkshire Health Network is currently looking at future provision beyond this date, with arrangements to be confirmed soon.
“If patients still require first, second or booster doses, they can book appointments via the NHS Booking Service online or call 119, or visit the NHS website to see local arrangements for walk-in clinic.”
Harrogate hospital covid death toll rises to 205
Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.
The hospital reported the death on Tuesday, according to NHS England figures. It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital to 205.
Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that another 326 infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district.
Meanwhile, government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average is 1,487 per 100,000 people, down on yesterday’s figure of 1,527.
It remains below both the county average, which is 1,475, and the England rate is also 1,475.
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The data also shows that 105,412 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.
Today, health bosses in North Yorkshire have sought to address fears from people who are hesitant to get the vaccine, in particular pregnant women.
‘Super-volunteer’ George Simpson – who has given over 1,500 hours of his time to the Knaresborough vaccination centre programme since it began in March 2021. Homecare Pharmacy vaccinator Janice John (in pink vest). Chain Lane Community Hub director Sue Vasey.
Dr Cath Dixon, executive chair and clinical lead of the Yorkshire Health Network a Federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, said:
“Getting a covid vaccine is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do this year to keep herself and her baby as safe from this virus as possible.
“There is now extensive evidence to show that the vaccines are safe and that the risks posed by covid to mum and baby are far greater. If any mums-to-be are having doubts about vaccination, I would urge them to talk to their midwife or doctor.”
Meanwhile, Knaresborough covid vaccination centre, based at Chain Lane Community Hub, administered its 125,000th jab today.
Officials at the centre reported that 40,000 of its vaccines which were given in November and December alone.
The vaccination centres at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races reopen today for the first time since Christmas.
The two sites are run by Yorkshire Health Network, which represents the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district.
The Yorkshire Event Centre at the showground will open for booked appointments from 11am until 8pm. Appointments are still available.
The site will also accept walk-ins from 11.30am today but people choosing this option may have to wait because bookings take priority.
The showground will be open at the weekend from 8.30am to 5pm for booked appointments and from 9am to 4pm for walk-ins.
All the clinics are for first, second or booster jabs for over-18s. Special clinics for 12 to 17-year-olds are put on separately.
Ripon Races will be open tomorrow and on Saturday at the usual times of 8:30am to 5pm for booked appointments and 9am to 4pm for walk-ins.
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Staff and volunteers at the Yorkshire Event Centre are due to relocate to another building at the showground on Thursday and Friday, ready for the Saturday clinic.
The new site is currently contracted for use until March. A decision on fourth vaccinations has yet to be taken.
Harrogate’s showground vaccine centre expands
Harrogate’s vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground has expanded to accommodate more vaccinators as part of a push to meet the government’s ambitious booster target.
Overnight the team has increased the number of clinical pods to cater for four more vaccinators and five more administration staff.
It means that rather than administering 1,700 jabs in a day, the team will be able to give 2,000 jabs.
There is now also room for more walk-ins to wait inside in anticipation of the colder weather to come.
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- Meet the showground heroes boosting Harrogate’s vaccine programme
Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate and district that operates the showground vaccination site, told the Stray Ferret:
“Firstly, I would urge anyone over 30 to book an appointment and for all walk-ins to bring their NHS number. It saves the team so much time.
“I have been trying to manage the staff the best I can so they can cope and it’s safe. We have had an extremely busy four days, it was like a tidal wave at the weekend.”
Walk-ins are available between 9am and 4pm every day and not outside those times.
Meet the showground heroes boosting Harrogate’s vaccine programmeAbout 20,000 people are expected to receive booster jabs at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground between December 6 and 22. Another 35,000 are set to follow in the New Year.
Most people who go agree it’s a slick, well-run operation. That it works so well is down to the efforts of 50 staff and 60 volunteers behind the life-saving operation.
The Stray Ferret spoke to some of those on site this week. The 60 volunteers are divided into four teams of 15 volunteers a day supplied on alternate days by community groups Boroughbridge Community Care, Harrogate and District Community Action, Nidderdale Plus and Knaresborough Connectors.
The Boroughbridge team, led by volunteer coordinator Jan Seymour, was on duty when we visited.
Ms Seymour was holding a box of chocolates, donated by a patient. All such gifts get shared between the helpers. She jokes:
“The people we like most are the ones that bring us chocolate and cake!
Jan Seymour
The set-up at the Yorkshire Event Centre is the same as it was from February to August this year when some 120,000 first and second dose vaccines were administered.
The volunteers remain relentlessly cheerful and helpful but there is a wearier feel to the place than there was in spring. Ms Seymour says:
“When we opened in February everyone was absolutely desperate to get it. Now the attitude is ‘I’m a bit busy today, can I come tomorrow?'”.
Volunteers typically do half a day each, either from 8am to 1pm or 1pm to 6pm. They meet and greet people, direct traffic and take people to one of the 16 vaccination pods, which can cater for up to eight vaccinators. Ms Seymour says:
“During lockdown it was easy to get volunteers but recently it’s become harder. Some people are back at work and many volunteers are older people who have childcare duties.
“The majority of patients are absolutely wonderful. They could not be more thankful. We get the odd one who isn’t. One guy had a go at me on Monday when he said ‘why can’t I go to my doctor for this? But that’s unusual. Most people are great.”
Staffing fatigue
Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, manages the vaccination sites at Harrogate and Ripon racecourse.
Tim Yarrow, operations manager for the network, says the Harrogate site can handle greater numbers of walk-in patients because of its size and abundant parking.
Tim Yarrow
The quietest time, he says, is early to mid afternoon, then numbers soar towards the end of the day as many people try to get in at the end of their working days. The decision to allow walk-ins this week sparked a surge of visitors with queues of up to an hour at peak times.
Mr Yarrow says:
“We set this up in one-and-a-half days. It was easier second time round. We knew the snagging points from last time.
“The main challenge is staffing fatigue. During lockdown we had a lot of people with not a lot else to do. As people have gone back to their day jobs their availability has become more sparse.”
Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which owns the site, has “bent over backwards to enable it to happen”, says Mr Yarrow. When the site re-opens in January, jabs will take place in another building at the showground so the society can resume holding events in the Yorkshire Event Centre.
Moderna provided
Barnaby Roe, general manager of Yorkshire Health Network, oversees the operation at the showground.
In a makeshift office on site, he explains that the 50 staff are comprised of GP practice staff, who are helping for free on their days off, members of Yorkshire Health Network, pharmacists, pharmacist technicians and nurses. Half work the morning shift and half work in the afternoon.
“This programme will be for 20,000 to December 22 then going forward we think it will be another 35,000.”
Barnaby Roe
The site is giving doses of the Moderna booster but also administers some Pfizer jabs to children from immunosuppressed families.
“The people who work here have done it for some time and it’s down to a fine art.”
Booster appointments can be booked at the showground here. The site provided some walk-in appointments this week for over-18s who were eligible for jabs and has yet to decide whether they will be available next week.
Harrogate vaccine walk-ins: go in afternoon tomorrow to avoid queuesStaff giving vaccines at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate have advised anyone planning a walk-in booster jab tomorrow to go in the afternoon.
The decision to allow over-18s to just turn up and get boosters prompted a wave of visitors to the showground today. Some people queued for an hour to get jabbed.
Tim Yarrow, operations manager for Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, said the site had a lot of booked appointments tomorrow morning but the afternoon was quieter.
Anyone arriving for morning walk-ins would receive a booster, said Mr Yarrow, but they might have to wait for up to an hour.
He said it was likely to be quieter after 12.30pm.
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Another 102 covid infections were reported today in the Harrogate district.
The district’s seven-day infection rate has fallen slightly to 422 cases per 100,000. The North Yorkshire average is 380 and the England average is 505.
No further covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, meaning the overall total remains at 200.