Every care home resident in Manchester has received their first vaccine dose
Each person living at care homes across the city centre has been offered their initial jab as part of England's vaccine rollout - which has seen over 6.5 million vaccinated in total so far.
Every care home resident in the Manchester borough has received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Care homes across the city centre have been prioritised for jabs as part of England’s vaccine rollout – which has seen over 6.5 million people in the country vaccinated in total so far.
All vaccinations in Manchester have been administered by local GPs, pharmacists and NHS community staff.
Councillor Bev Craig, Manchester City Council’s executive member for adult health and wellbeing, said she was “so proud” of the work that had gone into protecting the region’s most vulnerable people.
She added: “We are already also seeing a really encouraging take up of the vaccine amongst care home staff, we cannot stress how important this is and we’d urge any staff member who is still unsure to talk to their colleagues who have already had it so they can see how easy and safe the process has been.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They can book an appointment through their home managers and we really want to encourage them to take this opportunity as soon as possible.”
Manchester has reached a milestone with its vaccination programme – every care home resident has now had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/TyAHKJmMCD
Around 80% of all Over 80s in England have now been vaccinated.
ADVERTISEMENT
The UK is currently on track to give each of the top four priority groups – care home residents and staff, frontline workers, Over 70s and the clinically vulnerable – the vaccine before February 15.
Under current plans, all Manchester care home residents are scheduled for second vaccine jabs (if they haven’t received them already) no later than 12 weeks after receiving their initial dose.
Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and OxfordZenecca vaccines require two separate doses for maximum effect against coronavirus.
ADVERTISEMENT
The original plan was to give these two doses three weeks apart, but the UK government changed course ahead of the rollout, opting to give as many vulnerable people as possible their first shot to offer some initial protection.
The strategy is causing debate, with one group writing to England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty asking to cut the gap between doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to six weeks.
Professor Whitty has previously rationalised the decision as “simple maths”.
He stated: “…if a vaccine is more than 50% effective, if you double the number of people who are vaccinated over this very risky period when there is a lot of virus circulating, you are overall going to get some substantial benefit.”
Whitty added: “I think most people would agree that the risk that was identified was a relatively much smaller risk than the risk of not having people vaccinated, which essentially was the alternative.”
News
A literacy charity is making its way to Manchester bringing lots of FREE books
Thomas Melia
A charity dedicated to literacy is coming to Manchester in May providing families and individuals with plenty of free books.
Led by Bookbanks, this London-founded organisation was set up in line with food banks to provide people with access to free books and now they’re coming all the way to Manchester.
This charity started in 2022 all thanks to writer and journalist Emily Rhodes, who has read her fair share of books and wants to give this privilege to anyone who might not be able to get their hands on any.
The charity has seen widespread positive reception quickly expanding into Norfolk and is now partnering with various food banks in Manchester, marking the organisation’s first Northern venture.
Bookbanks gives out an average of 30 books per week, per site and has distributed over 5,000 books so far at food banks.
Crates being organised in Manchester food bank.Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
Titled Bookbanks after the fact that they work very closely with food banks to provide books far and wide to food banks across the UK, they also host a range of interactive events.
Alongside all the fantastic work the team do, there’s a handful of free workshops and author events on offer for all ages and backgrounds, to further build the connection between people and their books.
Currently, there are two famous figures backing this book-based charity, Elizabeth Day and Andrew O’Hagan, both of which are no stranger to a pen and paper.
Day is an award-winning author who has written nine fiction and non-fiction books to date, while O’Hagan is Booker Prize nominated and is London Review of Books’ Editor-at-Large.
Bookbanks relies on the general public to spread their message further and there’s even a section on their website detailing how you can get involved to continue distributing books within food banks.
One of Bookbank’s many free author events, some of which will hopefully take place in Manchester.Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
Whether you’re an avid runner or keen to try something new why not raise money for and be sponsored by Bookbanks, knowing you’ve done your bit to bring books to those who need them most.
If you don’t fancy lacing up those trainers and heading out for a run, why not donate any old books you’ve finished reading to this book-focused charity and allow others to discover a whole new world of reading.
Bookbanks first official Manchester site will launch on Friday 2 May at Manchester Central Food bank and a second site is already in talks at Greater Together Manchester’s Social Supermarket in Miles Platting.
To find out more ways to get involved as a company, publisher, member of public and more, you can find all information on their official site HERE.
Featured Image: Publicity Picture via Annabelle Williams
News
Touching tribute paid to man and his dog who died together in fatal collision
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man who was killed in a fatal collision last month, alongside his beloved dog, have paid tribute to him.
Andrew Old, 61, had been walking along Greenwood Road in Wythenshawe when he was struck by a vehicle that had been involved in a collision.
He had been waking his ‘lovely’ dog, Liddy, who also died at the scene.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on Sunday 9 March but tragically both Andrew and his beloved pet passed away.
Paying tribute to him, Andrew’s family said: “Andrew was our happy go lucky brother and he is so sadly missed by us all.
“We miss his smiles, his laughter, his jokes and his hourly phone calls.
“Words cannot describe the shock and disbelief that we feel due to the loss of Andrew, we are absolutely devastated.
“Andrew tragically died only metres from his home, whilst walking his lovely dog Liddy.
“The only solace we have is that Andrew and Liddy were not alone at such a horrific time and that they were together. Andrew and Liddy will always be in our hearts.”
The Manc -
26th January 2021 
