Bolton's vaccine lead on stopping the spread of the Indian variant
“This action is being taken to protect everyone in Bolton and to help stop the spread of the new variant."
Last updated 18th May 2021
Enhanced vaccination via the Vaccination Bus at Essa Academy has been underway in the BL3 area since Monday, May 10 in response to the Covid-19 variant of concern.
It's focusing on areas in Deane, Rumworth and Great Lever.
Since then it's been extended to include people who live, work or study in the neighbouring BL4 area, as well as maximising capacity on site with the help of volunteer vaccinators from the St John Ambulance.
More queues of people could be seen waiting to get their jab in Bolton today.
At its height, there were 42 vaccinators at Essa Academy over the weekend of May 15/16 - vaccinating around 6,000 people using a team of volunteers.
Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for the vaccination programme in Bolton, said: “This action is being taken to protect everyone in Bolton and to help stop the spread of the new variant.
“Over these last few weeks, I have experienced partnership working like never before to get the job done and respond to a situation in the very best interests of our local communities.
“We are doing all that we can to make vaccination as accessible as possible to those people in the affected areas and we continue to vaccinate within JCVI guidance.
“These are areas of high deprivation and we know that some people face barriers to getting their vaccine, such as childcare issues, not wanting to use public transport or not being able to afford to travel, or not having credit on a phone to make an appointment.”
The current vaccination criteria is (as of May 18) people aged 36 and over, people at high risk of Covid-19, including the clinically extremely vulnerable and people who have a long-term health condition, carers, and health and social care workers.