Ready, Set, Go: Ripon racecourse set to reopen as vaccination centre
Ripon Racecourse will reopen as a COVID-19 vaccination centre and Knaresborough’s York Road site has relocated to the Chain Lane community hub for the vaccine booster programme.
The rollout of third doses to around 30 million people across the UK began last week.
Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are going to have a mix of venues delivering the booster programme – some of our practice sites will be delivering the vaccines and in addition, there will also be a number of community pharmacy sites across North Yorkshire.
“The community pharmacy sites are managed by NHS England and are currently undergoing a site assurance process.
“We are awaiting the outcome of these assurance visits and after that, there will be a complete list of sites.
“Also, the Ripon Racecourse site will reopen for the booster programme.”
Ripon Racecourse closed as a vaccination centre in July after being used for the first phase of the rollout, while Knaresborough’s site relocated at the beginning of this week.
Recommendation from the advisers
The rollout of booster jabs follows a recommendation from the government’s vaccine advisers, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which said third doses should be given at least six months after a person has had their second – with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab recommended.
The recommendations come amid concern about waning immunity, with JCVI saying that it wanted to take the precautionary approach of boosters to ensure the most vulnerable people maintain high levels of protection.
Those eligible for the booster jabs include over-50s, younger adults with health conditions, and frontline health and care workers.
Patients will be invited on a priority basis and they have been urged not to contact the NHS, but to wait to hear from the health service.
Ms. Bloor explained: “The booster programme will be delivered as it was in phase one with the most vulnerable being invited first, so care home residents will be prioritised.
“Cohorts one to nine, in order, will be invited for a booster no earlier than six months from their second dose. The boosters will be by appointment only and there won’t be a drop-in service at this point.
“Patients will be contacted directly by the NHS and this may be through text, letter, or by their practice.
There is no need for anyone to contact their GP and I want to stress this… the NHS will be in touch with you.
Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination by visiting the NHS website or by calling 119.
