'Be sure to grab a jab ahead of Mothering Sunday'

'Grab a jab before you meet up with Granny' is this week’s message from West Northamptonshire’s interim Director of Public Health, as a further 3,486 residents test positive.

In two weeks’ time families will be meeting up in restaurants, pubs and homes all over Northamptonshire with loved ones to celebrate Mothering Sunday. However, with COVID-19 still in circulation it’s vitally important that we do what we can to protect those we love.

As the COVID-19 vaccination takes around two weeks to take effect, this weekend (or early next week) is the ideal time to get a jab for you or your youngsters if you’ve been putting off getting it.

The school vaccination programme has been running since September, with second jabs offered since January. However, we are aware that some youngsters have missed out on their jabs.

If your youngster is aged 12-15 and hasn’t yet had their first, or missed out on their second, dose of the vaccination why not pop in to one of the many vaccination sites across the county? These are drop ins, so there’s no need to book ahead.

Vaccinating children can help stop the spread of COVID-19 to other people so it’s important to make it a priority if they’re meeting up with their grandparents in a couple of weeks.

Vaccination drop-in sites in West Northamptonshire

Northampton

Kings Heath Vaccination Centre, North Oval, NN5 7LN (ages 12+)
Tuesday 15 March - 10am to 2pm

Ramgarhia Sikh Temple, Cromwell Street, NN1 2TE (ages 16+)
Sunday 13 March - 2pm to 6pm

​Regent Pharmacy, 10-11 Regent Square, NN1 2NQ (ages 16+)
Friday 11 March - 10am to 6pm
Monday 14 March - 10am to 6pm
Tuesday 15 March - 10am to 6pm

St Michael and All Angels' Church, Perry Street, NN1 4HL (ages 12+)
Friday 11 March - 9am to 6pm
Saturday 12 March - 9am to 6pm

Unidrugs Pharmacy, Camp Hill Local Centre, Hunsbury Hill Road NN4 9UW (ages 12+)
Saturday 12 March - 9:30am to 12pm

West Chemist, Kingsley Park Terrace, NN2 7HG (ages 12+)
Friday 11 March - 10am to 4pm
Saturday 12 March - 10am to 3pm
Monday 14 March - 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 15 March - 10am to 4pm

Whitefields Surgery, Hunsbury Hill Road, Camp Hill, NN4 9UW (ages 12+)
​Sunday 13 March - 9am to 12:30pm

Find drop-in sessions available without an appointment. Please check eligibility criteria before attending a drop-in session.

It’s really important to get youngsters vaccinated even if they have already had COVID-19 as we’re seeing more re-infections in this age group than others which often then translates into household transmission.

This age group has to wait twelve weeks (84 days) after infection with COVID-19 so its possible they have missed out on the opportunity to have their jabs at school. Our drop in sites provide the quickest and easiest way to get them vaccinated, and several are open this weekend.

Children do not need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to be vaccinated.Sally Burns, Interim Director of Public Health for West Northamptonshire Council

Covid-19 in the county this week

An analysis of the county’s recent coronavirus cases and rates over the period 28 February to 6 March 2022, shows:

• 3,486 residents tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Of this number, 369 were reinfection cases ‘Reinfections’ are a new measurement now appearing in the county’s weekly data surveillance report and are defined as, ‘an infection of COVID- 19 from any of the variants after 90 days from the date of the last positive test
• Northamptonshire’s infection rate per 100,000 population is 389.2. West Northamptonshire’s rate per 100,000 population is 417. Both are statistically significantly higher than the national average (332.1)
• The highest rates locally are Northampton (427.4) and Kettering (412.7)
• Five people died in Northamptonshire within 28 days of a positive test
• Overall, more women than men tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 28 days
• The age group with the most positive cases was 30-39
• 10-19-year-olds had the most reinfections, likely due to school environments

View the weekly Covid-19 Surveillance Report