The new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is being rolled out to General Practice led services in the North West today (07/01/2021) making it easier to protect care home residents and other vulnerable people against Covid-19.

The vaccine has been trialled at selected hospitals for surveillance purposes before being sent out to community-based local vaccination services.

Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved, the Oxford vaccine does not need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures and is much easier to move, making it easier to use in care homes and to vaccinate the housebound.

In the North West, more than 40 new sites are opening at hospitals and in the community this week in the new phase of the vaccination programme, the largest in NHS history. This is on top of the 98 which were already open and vaccinating.

The first of a number of larger-scale vaccination centres planned for the region will be among many more sites coming online next week.

Regional Medical Director (North West), Dr David Levy, said: “GPs, nurses, pharmacists and countless other staff and volunteers have been working around the clock to be able to launch more than 40 more sites in our region this week.

“Combined with the arrival of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, we will now be able to protect many more vulnerable people against the virus and faster.”

The rollout comes after the vaccine was approved for use outside of hospitals by the four Chief Medical Officers and NHS England’s Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis.

Care home residents cannot travel to hospital for a jab and Pfizer is difficult to get to hospitals so the decision will speed up the drive to vaccinate them.

Care home residents and staff – as well as people aged over 80 – were set as the highest priority group by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

In addition to the Oxford jab, local vaccination services are being issued with small packs of Pfizer jabs which can be used in care homes.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Every part of the government and the NHS are working around the clock to rapidly scale up our Covid-19 vaccination programme so we can protect those most at risk from this awful disease as quickly as possible.

“The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can be transported easily and I’m delighted care home residents will begin receiving their first Oxford AstraZeneca jabs this week. More than 1.3 million people have already been vaccinated in the UK, including 23 percent – or over 650,000 – of the over-80s in England.

“We are aiming to offer vaccinations to the majority of care home residents by the end of January and all 13 million people in the top four priority cohorts by mid-February. This will ensure the most vulnerable are protected and will save tens of thousands of lives.

“As our vaccination programme ramps up, I urge everybody to continue following the latest restrictions to keep cases low and protect loved ones.”