Trafford residents are being asked to help stop the spread of Covid-19 as rates continue to rise across the North West.
As part of Greater Manchester, Trafford is an area of enhanced response because of the high rates of the Covid-19 Delta variant.
Trafford Council is stepping up its response and is urging residents over the age of 18 to play their part by booking their vaccination appointment. On Friday 18 June the national vaccination programme opened to all adults in England.
Eleanor Roaf, director of public health at Trafford Council, said:
“Sadly we are now seeing an increase in Covid-19 hospitalisations. It is vital that people say yes to their vaccine for their own health and that of their friends and family. Vaccination will help us bring this pandemic to an end.”
Trafford Council’s community engagement team, funded by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, are leading efforts to drive up vaccine uptake across the borough. They deploy 50 volunteers to vaccination clinics every week and have engaged with the borough’s homeless population to provide bespoke vaccination support.
In response to lower vaccine uptake in the north of Trafford, the team has worked to increase community confidence in the vaccine. This work has included conversations with residents about the vaccine in their own language. In recent months the north of the borough has experienced Trafford’s largest percentage rise in vaccine uptake.
Councillor Mike Freeman, executive member for Covid-19 recovery and reform, said:
“I am so proud of the incredible work being done to engage our communities. It is making a real difference, allowing our residents to be heard and shaping our future work.
Sadly Covid-19 is not over and we all need to chip in to bring the rates down. We know our residents have already done so much but we all need to do another push to get this variant under control.”
To book your vaccination visit www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119. There are vaccination clinics in Sale, Timperley, Urmston and Partington on the booking system. If you don’t see Trafford sites listed, refresh the page or visit the website later – new appointment slots are added each day. You may also get a letter, text or email from your doctor giving you details of other local clinics.
The borough’s Community Champions scheme is open for applications. If you like to keep up to date with the latest Covid-19 developments and advice become a Champion today. Visit www.trafford.gov.uk/CommunityChampions to find out more and to apply.
Posted on Friday 18th June 2021