Kirklees residents urged to get their jabs as part of the NHS ‘Big Vaccine Weekend’

People in Kirklees are being given extra opportunities to get vaccinated as part of a major national drive to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates this weekend (26-28 November).

Hundreds of extra appointments for both boosters and first and second doses are on offer at vaccination centres across the district in the nationwide promotion – dubbed ‘The Big Vaccine Weekend.’ Some centres will also be offering walk-in appointments to make it as easy as possible for people to grab whichever jab they need.

To date, over 312,000 people in Kirklees have been vaccinated and uptake for boosters amongst those who are eligible has also been high.

But health chiefs hope the Big Vaccine Weekend will encourage anyone who needs a jab to come forward, particularly as Christmas festivities start to get underway.

Steve Brennan, Senior Responsible Officer for the Vaccination Programme in Kirklees, said:

“COVID-19 is still very much here, and we hope the Big Vaccine Weekend will prompt anyone who needs a jab to come forward, whether it’s their booster or their first or second dose.

“40-49 year olds are now eligible for booster jabs, as well as all those who are aged 50 and over, unpaid carers and people who have a health condition that puts them at increased risk from COVID-19. And the JCVI has also recommended that 16-17 year olds should have a second dose, so we know there will be lots of people in these groups who are keen to get their vaccinations as soon as possible.

“Whichever jab you need to protect you against Covid-19, come and get it this weekend and make sure you are protected for Christmas”.

Over the weekend, walk-in jabs for people aged 16 and over will be offered at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre in Huddersfield (near the O2 and Vodaphone stores), for any Christmas shoppers who would like to drop in. Walk-ins will be available from 10am – 4pm on Saturday 27 November and from 11am – 2pm on Sunday 28 November.

You are eligible for a booster dose if it’s been 6 months (182 days) since your 2nd dose and you’re either:

• aged 40 years old or over
• aged 16 years old or over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19

Visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site to find out which services in Kirklees will be offering walk-in appointments.

You can also book your vaccination online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine or by calling 119.