When can I get the Coronavirus vaccine in Oldham?

The first patients in the world have received the Covid-19 vaccine today as part of the UK's largest immunisation programme.

But when will the vaccine be available in Oldham, and how do you ensure you will receive the vaccination?

We know that Coronavirus vaccines will be made available to everyone at some point. Only children under 16, and pregnant women will not receive the jab.  

While we don’t have enough information yet to know exactly when that might be, we do know that problems with transporting the vaccine means not everyone’s going to be able to get vaccinated at the same time.

The important point to remember at this stage is that the NHS will contact you when the vaccine is available.  They are asking that you do not contact hospitals or your GP surgery to request the vaccine.

To make sure those most in need of a vaccine receive one as soon as possible, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised the Government to prioritise certain groups. The groups below are listed in order of priority

• Older adults that are a resident in a care home and their care workers.
• Everyone aged 80+ and all health and social care workers.
• Everyone aged 75+.
• Everyone aged 70+ and all those considered clinically extremely vulnerable and were previously advised to shield.
• Everyone aged 65+.
• Everyone aged 16-64 with an underlying health condition and unpaid/informal carers (anyone that provides care for another person, including a relative or friend).
• Everyone 60+.
• Everyone 55+.
• Everyone 50+.
• Everyone else.

Vaccinations will take place at one of the following settings:

• at a hospital
• in the community – through GPs and pharmacists
• in specially designated vaccination centres.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS in England, has said that those in care homes face a wait because of difficulties in transporting the vaccine.

He set out some details of the roll-out, but said the news should be "tempered with realism".

Sir Simon said that, because it has to be stored at such a low temperature (-70C), the vaccine can only be moved a few times.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, said the government is working to get doses of the vaccine into care homes "as soon as it is legally and technically possible".

The vaccine will be rolled out through three different channels, with hospitals first, followed by vaccination centres and then GP surgeries and pharmacies.

Currently, there are 50 hospitals taking part in the vaccination programme, including Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

The bulk of the vaccination for the at-risk population is expected to take place between January and April.

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