Cabinet Member urges fellow residents to get Covid-19 jab

Wednesday, 10 February 2021 19:13

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre has become the first member of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet to receive the Covid-19 vaccine – and is encouraging everyone in Wolverhampton to have theirs as soon as they are eligible to do so.

The 74-year-old Cabinet Member for Education and Skills was invited by the NHS to have his first dose of the vaccine last week.

He said: "The whole process was very quick and efficient. We know that getting as many people as possible vaccinated against this dreadful virus is the only way in which we are going to get back to some sense of normality, so when it's your turn please make sure you get your jab."

Those most at risk are being offered the vaccination first, and it will be rolled out to other groups in order of age and risk over the coming weeks and months. For details of the priority list, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Anyone who is aged 70 and over – and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable – are being urged to book their Covid-19 vaccine now if they haven't already had their first jab. Appointments can be reserved via www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119 in the first instance. If a suitable and convenient slot is not available, people can also ring their GP practice.

The NHS will contact people aged under 70 when they become eligible for the vaccine; people should not contact their GP or pharmacy.

All the vaccines currently available have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). More information about the vaccine, and the answers to frequently asked questions, can be found at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidvaccine.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. Further details of the lockdown restrictions currently in place are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.