Outrage in Dewsbury after cancellation of Covid-19 vaccination appointments

Elderly and vulnerable people have been left angry and disappointed after the sudden cancellation of Covid vaccination appointments in Dewsbury and the Spen Valley.
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The NHS trumpeted the arrival of the Covid-19 jab in Kirklees on Wednesday.

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.

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

The Covid-19 vaccinations have been cancelled in parts of Dewsbury and Spen Valley (Getty Images)The Covid-19 vaccinations have been cancelled in parts of Dewsbury and Spen Valley (Getty Images)
The Covid-19 vaccinations have been cancelled in parts of Dewsbury and Spen Valley (Getty Images)

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

There was no timescale given for when planned vaccinations would be rescheduled.

One woman booked an appointment through her GP for the Dewsbury site, on a council car park under the Wellington Road flyover, only for it to be cancelled just two hours later.

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She said: “We are all delighted the vaccine is here and it was great to get an appointment so quickly but then to have it snatched away again is unbelievable. I’ve no idea what will happen now.”

Dewsbury Tory MP Mark Eastwood said he had been contacted by several constituents who had also expressed their disappointment.

He said it was originally believed drive-thru centres were allowed but then Government guidance changed.

“I can understand people’s disappointment,” said Mr Eastwood. “There was a lot of fanfare and now appointments are cancelled through no fault of their own.

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“My priority now is to make sure those people who missed out stay top of the list. We want alternative venues found as a matter of urgency.”

A spokesman for North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Following on from the opening of vaccination centres in Huddersfield and Batley earlier this week, we had hoped to be able to offer the vaccine from drive-through centres in Liversedge and Dewsbury.

“The requirements for delivering the vaccine are extremely complex and changing as new information emerges. To meet the latest guidance we need look at an alternative approach in these areas and regretfully have had to postpone the original appointments.

“We understand this will be disappointing for patients and we apologise for this and any inconvenience caused.

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“It is obviously important that the vaccine is delivered in the best way for patients and we’re doing all we can to make alternative arrangements and rearrange these appointments as soon as we possibly can.”