Unused Coronavirus vaccinations offered to staff and parents at some educational settings in the borough
BLMK CCG, Bedford Hospital and Bedford Borough Council secured a limited supply of Coronavirus Pfizer vaccines that would otherwise go to waste. The vaccine has been used to help control the rising rate of infection in Bedford Borough.
With a number of cases reported recently among students of in some educational settings in the Borough, a limited number of vaccination appointments were offered to staff, parents and carers aged 30-39 years old.
Vicky Head, Director of Public Health at Bedford Borough Council said "There have been 199 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Bedford Borough over the last seven days, a sharp increase we did not want to see, including cases at some educational settings in the Borough. The Coronavirus vaccines have been shown to be very effective at preventing infection and serious illness so it's really important that people get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Nationally anyone over 38 can now be vaccinated and there is good availability for appointments at the moment, so I would urge anyone who is eligible and has not yet been vaccinated to book their jab as soon as possible. We have worked with the most affected schools and colleges and our NHS colleagues to put vaccines that would otherwise be wasted to good use. By vaccinating those aged 30-39 who work or have children at some educational settings, we are helping to reduce transmission in the Borough."
Vaccine appointments for people over 38 can be booked online through the national booking system: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119.
With the rate of infection rising again in the Borough and evidence that the Indian variant VOC-21APR-02 is spreading locally, it is more important than ever that anyone with symptoms isolates immediately and books a test.
More details on testing is available on the Bedford Borough Council website: www.bedford.gov.uk/covid-19-testing/