New vaccination centre opens in York
Dr Mike Holmes, Clinical Lead for the York vaccine centre
The second mass COVID vaccination site in our region has opened on the outskirts of York, as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme.
The centre, at Askham Bar park and ride, is one of ten large-scale hubs across the country going live today (Monday 18 January).
The aim is to deliver around 1500 vaccinations there every day to patients as well as health and social care staff.
It comes a week after the launch of the first wave of vaccination hubs, including at Newcastle's Centre for Life. People who are aged 80 and over, and who live up to 45 minutes drive from the facilities, are being invited to book a Covid jab at one of these centres.
The NHS says that alternatively, people can choose to be contacted by their local GP vaccination service, to be immunised closer to home.
Meanwhile, the Government has urged people to help support those aged over 80 to receive their vaccination.
Meanwhile, North Tyneside Council are piloting offering rapid Covid tests to essential workers.
The facility will be set up at the Riverside Centre in North Shields, where people with no symptoms are encouraged to get get tested up to twice a week, with results within the hour.
Wendy Burke, the Director of Public Health for North Tyneside Council said the scheme is aimed at people who have to leave their home to get to work, including supermarket workers.