Lancashire residents urged to top up COVID-19 protection ahead of Christmas

The Lancashire Resilience Forum is urging residents to top up their protection against COVID-19 as they prepare to celebrate Christmas with friends and family.

It comes as the NHS in the north west is celebrating a double milestone after delivering its two-millionth autumn dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – two years after the vaccination programme launched.

Doreen McKeown, an 81-year-old grandmother from Lancashire, became the first person in the region to get the COVID-19 vaccine outside of a trial when she got her first dose in December 2020.

Since then, more than 17 million vaccines have been given in total across the region, including more than 4.3 million in Lancashire.

The autumn campaign, which started just three months ago, is aimed at boosting the protection of those most vulnerable from becoming seriously unwell with COVID-19.

NHS vaccination services are continuing to offer first, second and autumn booster doses of the vaccine to anyone eligible in the run-up to Christmas.

Anyone aged 50 and over, pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, unpaid carers and frontline health and social care workers are eligible for an autumn booster dose, as long as it has been three months since their last dose of the vaccine.

Jane Scattergood, senior responsible officer for the Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “It has been an incredible journey over the last two years and we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated vaccinators and volunteers.

"The first year of COVID-19 was a dark time, but the vaccine offered us hope – and more than 4.3 million jabs later we brought the virus under control. 

“We need to top up our protection, as immunity does wane, and take up the offer of the booster vaccine to protect our loved ones and ourselves.”

As we head into winter, flu presents further dangers. The flu vaccine is the best protection against getting seriously ill from flu and spreading it to other people.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire County Council, said: "Getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter.

"COVID-19 immunity fades with time so I would encourage everyone eligible to top up their protection with an extra dose of the vaccine ahead of winter.

"The COVID-19 and the flu vaccine can sometimes be given on the same day, but this isn't always possible, so I would encourage everybody to get each vaccination as soon as they can."

The anniversary of the COVID-19 vaccination programme comes as the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF), which coordinated the response to the pandemic in Lancashire, stood down its dedicated, multi-agency COVID-19 meetings.

Rose Rouse, chair of the LRF's Recovery Coordination Group and chief executive of Pendle Borough Council, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has been hugely challenging for Lancashire, but one we have tackled head-on.

"As we come to the second anniversary of the first vaccine being delivered, the time is right for us to refocus our efforts and look at the other issues facing our great county.

“I would like to thank all of our partners for helping us get to this point, and our residents who have pulled together through these difficult times in the true spirit of Lancashire."

You can book a vaccination appointment at: healthierlsc.co.uk/getmyjab.