Northamptonshire Covid-19 vaccine boss ‘absolutely confident’ resources are in place to offer jab to all over 50s by May

All over 50s in Northamptonshire should be offered a Covid-19 vaccination by the end of May this year, according to the county’s vaccine chief.

Speaking at the weekly Covid-19 press briefing on Friday (February 19), the director of the Covid vaccination programme in Northamptonshire said he was ‘absolutely confident’ that the team has the resources in place to vaccinate Northamptonshire residents in cohort nine - those aged over 50 - by May.

As long as vaccine supply allows, Chris Pallot is sure that the Northamptonshire team has the other resources in place to continue to lead the way as younger residents begin to be offered the first dose of immunisation.

Mr Pallot said: “Clearly this vaccination programme is one of the largest that the NHS has implemented and it is a big logistical challenge.

“I am absolutely confident that we have got the human resource and the physical capacity in place to deliver not just down to cohorts one to nine in early May but to carry on through the cohorts through the summer.

“Of course, as with everything and as the Prime Minister has said, this is dependent on the vaccine supply as well, but I’m absolutely confident that that will be in place to enable us to continue.

“I can’t possibly comment at the moment about boosters or variant vaccine because the science simply isn’t there yet, but it is a large challenge and we are putting plans in place through the spring and the summer to ensure we vaccinate down through all the cohorts that we are going to need to do to meet the promises that have been made on behalf of the nation as well as on behalf of Northamptonshire.”

As of February 14, 168,316 jabs have been administered across Northamptonshire, including more than 66,000 first doses to those under 70.

Anyone who is aged over 70 and is yet to receive their first dose of the injection, should make contact with their GP surgery or call the NHS Covid line on 119.

Deborah Needham also spoke at Friday’s Covid-19 press briefing to tell hospital attendees that aggression towards her staff when challenged about not wearing a face covering will not be tolerated. Read more about this here.

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