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Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Arrest following violent disorder in Pooley Bridge

    Arrest following violent disorder in Pooley Bridge

    Work starts on multi-use games area in Penrith

    Work starts on multi-use games area in Penrith

    Penrith businessman bitten by dog

    Penrith businessman bitten by dog

    End of road for Cumbria Classic Coaches after 28 years

    End of road for Cumbria Classic Coaches after 28 years

    Farm diversification project set to blossom

    Farm diversification project set to blossom

    71-year-old cyclist gets on his bike to Rome

    71-year-old cyclist gets on his bike to Rome

    Appleby car park and road to close for flood work

    Appleby car park and road to close for flood work

    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

  • Sport
    Teen golfer George Curry lines up with world’s best players

    Teen golfer George Curry lines up with world’s best players

    Ullswater Community College footballers make history

    Ullswater Community College footballers make history

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

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Home News

Wild goose chase for coronavirus vaccine boosters

by CWH
5 October 2023
in Latest, News
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Pensioners say they have faced a massive runaround trying to book online appointments for a seasonal COVID vaccine booster.

The NHS online booking system has been referring people in Eden to pharmacies miles away — as far afield as Grasmere, Milnthorpe, Bradford and Newcastle.

The sudden race for jabs followed the discovery in August of a new coronavirus variant — BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, an offshoot of Omicron.

Its discovery saw the Department for Health, and the UK Health Security Agency order the NHS to bring the seasonal rollout of COVID vaccines forward to 11th September, rather than early October as had been planned.

Those vulnerable to COVID were told to book online or call 119 to arrange a booster jab. But it appears the infrastructure for administering jabs in the Eden area was not well set up or advertised. Herald readers have told of hanging on the phone to try to book jabs.

Peter Wood, of Stainton, near Penrith, said that when he went to book online the nearest locations offered were Ambleside or Windermere. Other alternatives included Newcastle.

Mr Wood said: “If the system had been more efficient we needn’t have spent a small fortune on petrol going to Brampton. They even offered us COVID jabs in Bradford.”

A Penrith resident, aged 75, who drives and is active, also had to travel miles for an appointment. She found pharmacies such as Boots in Penrith were not offering booster jabs.

Since the initial alarm, the Government has claimed there is currently no evidence to suggest that Pirola is more likely than other variants to make people seriously ill. It recommends that vulnerable people get vaccinated to have continued protection.

The confusion over where to get a jab appeared to have calmed down after an announcement that limited appointments are being offered at Penrith Rugby Club or Newton Rigg. However, the booking system was still not offering any walk-in options at Penrith pharmacies when the Herald checked.

Asked for comment, the NHS said it was pleased people in Penrith are coming forward for appointments.

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