Health chiefs in plea as thousands ignore chance of Covid vaccine - The Redditch Standard

Health chiefs in plea as thousands ignore chance of Covid vaccine

Redditch Editorial 21st May, 2021   0

HEALTH chiefs are urging Redditch residents eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination to come forward and get innoculated.

The appeal comes after it was revealed some 2,500 people in the borough invited to have the life saving jab have so far failed to take up the offer.

The figure represents some 10 per cent of the eligible population, and of those around 2,000 are under the age of 50 and have health conditions that put them at greater risk from coronavirus.

The call was made by Scott Parker, the man in charge of vaccine roll out across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.




The town is currently dealing with an outbreak of the South African variant of Covid while surges in the Indian variant of the disease have occurred elsewhere in the UK, particularly among those who have not had the jab.

Speaking at a Facebook live Question and Answer session organised by the Redditch Standard and Redditch Borough Council Mr Parker was joined by fellow panellists Dr Kath Cobain, the county’s director of public health, and Council Leader Matt Dormer.


“In Redditch we have had a really good uptake of the jab, however there are about 500 people over the age of 50 who are obviously eligible for the vaccine, have been invited and who have not come forward,” he said.

“There are also approximately 2,000 people under the age of 50 with an underlying health condition who have also not come forward.

“Those are people who I really want to appeal to, to please come forward and have your vaccine.”

He added that eligible people can book an appointment on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/ or by calling 119.

“If you have any concerns or anything you want to discuss about the vaccine you can either talk to one of the clinicians at the vaccine centre or contact your GP,” said Mr Parker.

Dr Cobain said the Covid jab was highly effective.

“The flu vaccine is 50 per cent effective but it saves lives, it stops people from dying,” she said.

“The (Covid) vaccines that we have now perform so well and it’s so important we come together in Redditch and get on top of this now and quash any kind of variants going on for if we reduce the circulation we reduce the risk.”

To watch the Q&A visit the Redditch Standard on Facebook.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Redditch Standard.

Podcasts

Now, every week, you can also listen to a roundup of Redditch Standard Local News.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.