Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre honoured to become one of the first vaccination hubs in Manchester
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre is delighted to have been chosen to become one of the first community based Covid-19 vaccination hubs, in partnership with NHS, local GP Surgeries and Clinical Commissioning Groups in Manchester. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which is 95% effective in preventing Covid-19 and works in all age groups, will first be offered to local residents aged 80 and above.
The centre was chosen in part because it meets the national criteria of a Primary Care Network area, characterised by a high deprivation and high proportion of residents ages 80 years and over. Wythenshawe residents will be notified by their GP as to whether they are eligible to attend the centre for the vaccine.
Chair of the WCHG Board, The Bishop of Manchester, The Right Revd Dr David Walker said, “I’m delighted that WCHG are partnering with the Health Service in Greater Manchester to create a vaccination hub in Wythenshawe. It’s hard to imagine a more appropriate place than a Lifestyle Centre, to roll out a programme that has such a vital part to play in helping us get to the point where our lives and lifestyle are less constrained by the present coronavirus restrictions. This partnership is a tangible expression of the commitment of WCHG, not only to providing healthy homes but to playing our part in addressing the health issues that affect the people of Wythenshawe and its surrounds”.
Group Chief Executive, Nick Horne said, “We are very pleased to be of part of history-in-the-making in the fight against Covid-19, with our Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre becoming one of the first vaccination hubs to serve our local community. The vaccination programme gives us all hope that at some point in the not too distant future we can resume near normal lives. Our work with partners to make this happen demonstrates WCHG’s commitment to providing practical support for the health and wellbeing of local people”.
Chair of Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre Stakeholder Board, Councillor Eddy Newman said, “Promoting a healthy lifestyle has always been one of the aims of Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre which is so much more than a community, youth and sports centre. This new role for our Centre could not be more important, bringing the vaccine that protects against Covid 19 to a convenient location for Wythenshawe's older residents. I am so proud of everyone in the NHS, in WCHG and at Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre”.
Sarah Woolley, Senior Community Investment Manager who manages the centre said, “I am delighted that our centre has been selected to be an integral part of the roll out of the vaccine. The centre is a vibrant hub within our community, with Covid and the impacts of lockdown like many businesses we have had to reduce our offer and much needed support to our community. Our commitment to working with our health partners to ensure our communities health and wellbeing is a priority has meant that we are able part of that journey to building back better for our local community and economy”.
The distribution of vaccine across the UK is being undertaken by Public Health England and the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through systems specially adapted from those used for the national immunisation programmes. The NHS has a strong record of delivering large scale vaccination programmes - from the flu jab, HPV vaccine and lifesaving MMR jabs.
Residents are reminded whilst the vaccination programme is rolled out, the best way of fighting the virus is to keep maintaining social distancing practices, washing hands regularly and wearing a mask. The roll out of the vaccine brings hope that this is the beginning of the pandemic’s end.
