Ripon Racecourse to reopen as Covid-19 vaccine centre
It's to prepare for the coronavirus vaccine booster programme.
Last updated 22nd Sep 2021
Ripon Racecourse will reopen as a Covid vaccination centre for the coronavirus booster programme.
Knaresborough’s York Road vaccine site at the former Lidl supermarket will move to the town’s Chain Lane Community Hub.
A full list of sites of where the jabs will be delivered in the Harrogate district has yet to be revealed.
The rollout of third doses to around 30 million people across the UK is now underway.
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.
“In Knaresborough, the old Lidl vaccination site is relocating to the Chain Lane Community Hub from Tuesday and it will mean this site can significantly increase capacity.
“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 York Road site is still being used.
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.”