Delays continue for roll out of Covid-19 vaccine centres in Dewsbury and Liversedge

The first vaccinations were made in Batley and Huddersfield with new drive-thru centres set to open near Dewsbury Health Centre and at the Princess Mary sports complex in Liversedge in the week before Christmas.

However, within hours of appointments being made at Dewsbury and Liversedge, NHS staff were contacting people to cancel them.

The Reporter understood that people were told that all appointments made were being cancelled up to and including December 21 while the situation was under review.

Now it looks like the drive thru centres in Dewsbury and Liversdege will still not be up and running until mid-January.

A spokesperson for the North Kirklees CCG said: "The Covid-19 vaccine has started to be offered to people aged 80 and over in Kirklees by groups of GP practices working together from dedicated vaccination centres.

"As in the rest of the country, this is being done in a phased approach and we expect that all areas will be covered very shortly.

"Originally, we had planned to offer vaccinations from drive-through centres in Liversedge and Dewsbury from 17 December.

"Unfortunately, subsequent changes in national guidance meant that we were no longer able to use this approach and we had to postpone the appointments that had been made for patients in these areas.

We are working hard to put in place alternative arrangements for these areas and hope to have local vaccination centres up and running in Liversedge and Dewsbury by mid-January.

"Patients who had appointments cancelled will be contacted by their GP practice to re-arrange their appointment as soon as the centres are ready.

"We understand this delay is disappointing for patients in these areas and our priority is to ensure they receive their vaccinations as soon as possible."