A VACCINATION centre is supporting the acceleration of Covid-19 vaccinations for frontline health and care workers from across West Yorkshire before it officially opens next month.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust had been given the go ahead to use the facilities at the Leeds Vaccination Centre at Elland Road before it opens to help vaccinate frontline health and care workers as quickly as possible.

In addition to NHS and social care staff, this includes dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, funeral directors and private health and care providers across the city, as set out in the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI) guidance.

Dr Phil Wood, Senior Responsible Officer for the West Yorkshire Vaccination Programme: “We are working hard to vaccinate at-risk groups in West Yorkshire as quickly as possible, beginning with people aged 80 and over, and care home residents and workers. Frontline staff and patient-facing workers are also one of the highest priority groups and using the site at Elland Road before it opens to the public will help us to reach more health and care workers across Leeds.

“We are looking at ways to provide more staff vaccinations across West Yorkshire and are in the process of contacting all frontline workers who qualify for a vaccination to make appointments. This will take some time to work through so we are asking people to be patient and wait to be contacted, rather than contacting the NHS.”

All vaccinations are by appointment only so it is not possible to just turn up. All eligible health and care workers in West Yorkshire will be contacted in the next few weeks to attend a vaccination slot. For Leeds, this will be at either Elland Road or Thackray Medical Museum.