PEOPLE in areas of Leicester where the take-up of the coronavirus vaccination has been low are being urged to have their jab this weekend.
A network of drop-in clinics opened in the city last week to offer a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to eligible people in the target areas – but the additional vaccine supplies are only expected to be available until Sunday (6 June).
People whose postcode starts with the four digits listed below are therefore being encouraged to pop in to one of the six Leicester sites for their jab as soon as they can:
LE1 1, LE1 7, LE2 0, LE2 1, LE2 7, LE3 0, LE3 2, LE3 5, LE3 6, LE3 9, LE4 0, LE4 2, LE4 9, LE5 0, LE5 1, LE5 3, LE5 4, LE5 5, LE5 6.
As well as older adults, those aged 18 or over may also be eligible for the jab – depending on who they live with.
Those now invited to come forward for their vaccination are:
- Those aged 18+ who live with someone who is at higher risk from Covid (either because they are aged 50 or over or because they have a health condition)
- Those aged 18+ who live with two or more adults who are not from the same family
- Those aged 30 or over (or turning 30 before 1st July 2021)
- Those with a health condition which puts them at higher risk from Covid
- Carers
- Health or care workers
Those who meet the criteria can get their Covid jab at one of the following locations until Sunday (6 June):
- Coleman Neighbourhood Centre, Balderstone Close, LE5 4ES
- De Montfort Hall (The Garden Room), University Road, LE1 7RU
- Eyres Monsell Community Centre, Hillsborough Road, Glen Parva, LE2 9PQ
- Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, Mantle Road, LE3 5HG
- Hamilton Library, 20 Maidenwell Avenue, LE5 1BL
- Tudor Community Centre, Bewcastle Grove, Leicester LE4 2JU
No appointment is necessary.
From Monday (7 June), only the clinics at De Montfort Hall and Hamilton Library will remain open – and that will only be for a short time, while vaccine stocks last.
All the clinics will be offering the Pfizer vaccine, which is suitable for pregnant women and people of all ages.
All six sites will be open from 12pm to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday (5-6 June).
Please note that this service cannot be used by those who have already had their first Covid jab.
People can also book their vaccinations on the NHS booking site, at hospital hubs, at participating pharmacies, or when their GP contacts them.
The six drop-in clinics have been set up to accelerate the vaccination process in Leicester, helping to protect people from the virus and its variants and stop cases in the city from rising further.
The local NHS worked with Leicester City Council to set up the vaccination hubs in response to a rise in cases of the coronavirus variant B.1.617.2 – the highly transmissible variant first identified in India, now known as the ‘Delta’ variant.
Leicester’s Director of Public Health Professor Ivan Browne said: “Stepping up vaccinations in Leicester provides us with a vital line of defence against the Delta variant.
“Over the past week, these walk-in centres have been helping us to accelerate our vaccination programme. They’ll be open until Sunday evening (6 June) so please make use of them.
“If you live in the areas that we’re targeting, and you haven’t had a jab yet, please get to one of these sites as soon as you can to have your vaccination – and make sure you have your second dose in around eight to 12 weeks’ time to give yourself the best possible protection.”
Caroline Trevithick, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Performance for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups said: “It’s really important that everyone in Leicester that is in an eligible group comes forward to have their Covid-19 vaccination. It’s especially important that those that live in the specifically identified areas within the city have their vaccines as there is a higher chance that the virus can spread rapidly in low vaccine take up areas.
“We are particularly keen to vaccinate anyone aged 50 and over or those with a health condition who hasn’t yet come forward. We’re also urging anyone over 18 that lives with a vulnerable person to come forward and be vaccinated too. This is so that we can help protect those that are most at risk from becoming seriously unwell if they catch the virus and we want to make sure they have the best possible protection if cases continue to rise.”
Latest figures for coronavirus infections in Leicester show a rate of 81.3 per 100,000 (seven days up to 27 May). This is up from the previous week’s rate of 58.2 per 100,000 (seven days up to 20 May).
As of 23 May, 78% of those aged 40 and over in Leicester had had their first Covid jab, compared to a national average of 85%. The percentage of those aged 40 and over who have had both jabs in Leicester is 48%, compared to 56% in England.
More information about getting the coronavirus vaccine is available here