Uncategorized

Over 130 students and staff took the opportunity to ‘grab a jab’ at recent, pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Hugh Baird College.

The vaccination team set up a clinic inside the Balliol Road campus in Bootle, before later arriving on the COVID-19 vaccination bus at the college’s south Sefton campus in Litherland.

Latest

The sessions were aimed at encouraging teenagers to get their vaccine as early as possible and were the latest in a series of pop-up clinics across Sefton. Others have including events at at the Port of Liverpool, the Waterloo Festival, Seaforth Village Surgery and Asda in Bootle. The Hugh Baird College college sessions were Led by Seaforth and Litherland Primary Care Network (PCN) with the support of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Young people aged 16 and over are now able to get their COVID-19 vaccines at sites across Sefton.

People can find a walk-in vaccination site or to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment when they are eligible,  by visiting  www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/

Enthusiastically

Dr Ken Lamden, COVID-19 vaccine programme coordinator, who was vaccinating patients on site said: “Of the total 133 patients vaccinated at Hugh Baird college, 85% were under 20 years old. It was really positive to see that teenagers in Sefton are so enthusiastically picking up the baton as the latest group of people eligible to get their vaccine.

“With students, we typically see more women than men coming forward for their vaccines, so it was really positive to see so many young men at the college stepping up and getting their jabs.

“It’s great to see that teenagers across our communities are taking responsibility for protecting not just themselves but their families and classmates alike.”

Real danger

James Bradbury, 16, a Hugh Baird College student who got his COVID-19 vaccination at the pop-up clinic at the Balliol Road campus said: “I came to get my COVID jab because it’s better to be safe than sorry. My mum has asthma so she’s vulnerable. If I were to catch COVID-19 then she would catch it and she would be in real danger.

“I was just told about the pop-up in my class, so I thought I’d come and get it out of the way, get it done.

“You’d usually have to get a vaccination appointment sorted out and that would discourage some people because that’s more effort. But the pop-ups are no effort really, just come to the building and get it done.”

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Sefton, visit the CCG websites: www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk / www.southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk

People in Sefton are being urged to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are offered, to boost their immunity this winter.

Each year, GPs in the borough call on those who are eligible to get their flu jab to help protect themselves, their family and friends. This year the offer of a flu jab is being extended to anyone aged 50 and over, as well as to those in high-risk groups.

With COVID-19 still in circulation, vaccinating against flu is more important than ever before.

Extremely contagious

Dr Pete Chamberlain, local GP and chair at NHS South Sefton CCG said: “Flu is extremely contagious and it can be debilitating for anyone and for those in ‘at risk’ groups it can have a serious impact.”

“If you are very young, old, pregnant or living with some health conditions, you could become seriously ill with flu. So, we are asking everyone that is eligible for the flu jab to ensure they get it as soon as it is offered. It is a simple procedure that could ultimately save lives.”

The NHS is also delivering the COVID-19 booster and. many GP surgeries are already contacting their most ‘at risk’ patients to arrange suitable appointments for their jabs. Those eligible for the COVID-19 booster will be able to have it from at least six months or 26 weeks after they have had their second jab. People should not contact their NHS as they will receive a letter or text inviting them for their booster jab when it is their turn. It may be possible for some people to have both jabs together, but people are being advised not to delay getting either vaccine, if they can’t be administered at the same time.

Increase your protection

Dr Rob Caudwell local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We would encourage you to get your vaccines as soon as possible to increase your protection rather than waiting to get them at the same time. COVID-19 and Flu are completely different viruses. Flu changes strains each year, so getting this vaccination is just as important to protecting yourself and those around you this winter.”

“Health and care systems are working harder than ever to provide the best service they can, so getting your jabs is another important way to help us to help you through the busy winter period.”

Defending ourselves

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “Vaccination is the best way we can protect ourselves both against flu and the COVID-19 virus, so I would urge everyone to get their flu jab and COVID booster as soon as they are invited or offered them.

“By getting vaccinated we are not only defending ourselves against these very unpleasant and, for some people, dangerous viruses but we are also protecting our family, friends and colleagues.”

Health and social care workers are among those eligible for the booster, via the National Booking Service to receive their booster at least six months or 26 weeks after they have had their second jab.

Seriously ill

Research has shown that you’re more likely to be seriously ill if you get flu and COVID-19 together at the same time.

Dr Rob Caudwell, adds: “It’s amazing that so many people have had their COVID-19 vaccine, and if you’ve yet to have yours, it’s never too late.”

For more information on flu, visit the NHS website at – www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu

Those who are eligible for a free flu vaccine this year include:

• children aged 2 to 15 (but not 16 years or older) on 31 August 2021 – who will be offered a nasal spray
• those aged 6 months to under 50 years in clinical risk groups
• pregnant women
• those aged 50 years and over
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• frontline health and social care staff employed by:
• a registered residential care or nursing home
• registered domiciliary care provider
• a voluntary managed hospice provider

More information about the COVID-19 booster programme is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/

Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s, three-night British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport’s Victoria Park at the weekend.

Pyro

Visitors got to ‘Oooh’ and ‘Aaah’ at spectacular choreographed displays featuring fireworks coordinated to music, by some of the country’s top pyro companies.

Over 10 tonnes of fireworks and two tonnes of explosive material were used over the weekend. Displays took teams of up to 15 technicians more than 12 hours to set up and required around five kilometres of wire to connect the electrical firing circuits.

Winners

The overall winners of the 2021 British Championship were Dragon Fireworks from Chertsey in Surrey. Second were Devon company Sonic Fireworks & Events and third were Star Fireworks from Bracknell.

Incredible

When this year’s competition was announced, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills described The British Musical Fireworks Championship as “the perfect way to round off an incredible summer of events and investment in Southport and Sefton.”

She said: “Having been running for well over 20 years, the Championship is always a hugely popular three-day event and brings in crowds from across the North of England for a unique and stunning experience.”

With work on the new driving range at Bootle Golf Course entering its final weeks Cllr. Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing, went along to see how the work is progressing.

Construction of the 10-bay shed is just about complete, the fencing is in place and the outfield has been seeded and tended by Green Sefton’s team and is benefiting from the recent mix of sunshine and rain.

With the main building sealed, work to fit it out and add the facilities is getting underway. Final fitting will include equipment such as the ball dispensers. The range will also have a dedicated coaching bay.

Chance to practice

After being shown around the site by Green Sefton Service Manager Mark Shaw, Cllr Moncur said: “It’s good to see the new driving range taking shape and I look forward to us being open, hopefully in the coming weeks.

“By investing in this new £240,000 floodlit driving range, Sefton Council is giving existing players a chance to practice more perfect their game, including during the winter months when it can often be too dark to play.

“And we are giving people who live and work locally the chance to try out the game, with coaching should they want it.”

Contractors Davies Building & Maintenance used 8.2 tonnes of steel plus one tonne of press steel purlins – the equivalent of 200,000 golf balls to erect the frame for the main building. Before that, they laid over 90 cubic metres approaching 4½ million golf balls – of concrete for the foundations.

Future champion

Cllr Moncur added:  “When we consulted local people and course users, they told us they wanted more practice facilities, which is just what we are providing here.

“The opportunity to give golf a go at Bootle Driving Range may be just the opportunity a future champion needs to get started on their career.”

Construction of the new driving range is not preventing play at Bootle Golf Course where adult prices start at just £13 per round.

People can find out more about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses and look out for updates about the opening of the new driving range at www.sefton.gov.uk/golf.