More Melton residents set to get Covid jab invite

Residents of the Melton borough aged 70 and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be invited to get their Covid vaccination jab from today (Monday) as the NHS begins its roll out of the vaccines to the next two priority groups.
By Nick Rennie
Published 18th Jan 2021, 10:07 BST
Vaccinations against coronavirus are being rolled out across the UK EMN-210118-095938001Vaccinations against coronavirus are being rolled out across the UK EMN-210118-095938001
Vaccinations against coronavirus are being rolled out across the UK EMN-210118-095938001

Thousands of people aged over 80 have already been vaccinated at the town’s Melton Sports Village hub along with hundreds of care home residents and staff during the first two priority cohorts.

The government is aiming to reach Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s commitment of offering vaccinations to the first four priority groups by the middle of February.

Leicestershire health officials say they expect vaccination rates to accelerate across the county now that increasing supplies of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine are available in addition to the initial Pfizer version.

Meanwhile a former Mayor who has had his first coronavirus jab at the Melton vaccination centre has urged others to have theirs as soon as they are invited.

Councillor Ken Pacey (82), a ward councillor in Syston, and ex-Mayor of Charnwood, said: “We need as many people as possible to take up the jab.

“It is very safe, and I was really pleased to receive it.

“I just hope and pray that everybody will follow suit and have the jab so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.

“I received my jab in Melton and I have to say the whole process was incredibly safe and everyone was socially distancing.

“I could not have felt safer and the whole thing took just about half an hour.

“The staff were very well organised and professional, and I cannot thank them enough.”

The NHS ask people not to approach them to request a Covid vaccination - they are sending out appointment invitations.

Related topics:ResidentsNHSMeltonMayorBoris JohnsonMelton Sports VillageAstraZeneca