Thousands of people are already being immunised against COVID-19 in Oldham as part of our community vaccination programme which began on Monday 14 December.

Six vaccination centres are in operation across the borough to deliver the vaccine, alongside the Greater Manchester vaccination centre that is based at the Etihad campus.

The current sites in Oldham are:

Moorside Medical Practice
Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre
Greenbank Medical Practice
Integrated Care Centre
Fields new Road Primary Care Centre
Failsworth Group Practice

Who is being vaccinated?

Vaccinations are already underway in our borough for the four identified priority groups which include:

Older care home residents and staff
Over 70s
Frontline health and social care workers
Clinically extremely vulnerable residents

We aim to vaccinate these groups by mid-February. Other priority groups will then follow in age and potential risk order.

Vaccinations are also being carried out separately at care homes and hospitals in Oldham.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination, first phase priority groups visit:

COVID-19 vaccination first phase priority groups – GOV.uk website

How we’ll contact you

If you are registered with a GP in Oldham, you will be contacted directly from your practice or an NHS representative when it is your turn to be vaccinated.

Please note, you may receive a call from a mobile phone number but the caller will identify themselves.

If you live in Oldham but are registered with a practice outside the borough you will be contacted by representatives from that local authority area.

The caller will identify themselves and say they are calling on behalf of your GP and they are getting in touch about booking an appointment for a Coronavirus vaccine.

The caller will then offer dates and times for you to attend clinic. They will also give the location of the site where you will receive it. This may not be your usual surgery.

The Covid-19 vaccination is given in two doses. You will be given an appointment for your second dose three to 12 weeks after having the first dose.

The callers booking vaccinations will not ask for any other personal details other than asking you to confirm your name.

They certainly will not ask for any money. Sadly, we have already been alerted to possible phone scams with callers asking for payment for access to vaccinations.

It has also been brought to our attention that there is someone knocking on doors, offering the vaccine. This is also a scam. Do not let this person into your home, give them any personal details or accept anything from them.

Once you have received the vaccination you must not drive for 15 minutes afterwards. You will need to remain in clinic until that time has elapsed.

It is important that you attend your vaccination appointment. But if for any reason you can’t, let your GP know as soon as possible so your slot can be offered to another resident.

If you are eligible and haven’t been vaccinated by your GP already, you may also receive another invitation from the NHS offering you the option of attending the Mass Vaccination Centre at the Etihad Campus in Manchester or a local pharmacy.

If you have already booked an appointment with your GP practice, you can ignore this letter.

A guide to your COVID-19 vaccination – PDF easy read format GOV.UK website

Why is the vaccine important?

Having the vaccine will be the best way to protect the most vulnerable people from coronavirus and has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives.

For more information on the Coronavirus vaccine, visit the NHS website:

Why vaccination is safe and important – NHS UK website

Vaccine rollout progressing well across Oldham

Published: Wednesday, 20th January 2021Residents of all care homes in Oldham will have received the Coronavirus vaccine by the end of this week.

The news comes as rollout of the vaccine progresses well across the borough, with more than 13,000 vaccines delivered to Oldham’s most elderly and vulnerable residents, as well as to front-line workers.

In addition to care home residents and staff, all other priority groups are on track to be vaccinated by mid-February. These are those aged over 70; frontline health and social care workers, and clinically extremely vulnerable people.

Having the vaccine is the best way to protect the most vulnerable people from Coronavirus, and has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives.

Dr Zahid Chauhan, Oldham GP and cabinet member for health and social care at Oldham Council, said: “I’m proud that the rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine is progressing so well here in Oldham. This is down to the hard work of people across the system working together in very challenging and complex circumstances.

“This vaccine is the best defence against Coronavirus alongside effective social distancing, wearing a face covering, and hand hygiene. It’s also very important to remember that the vaccine is safe, and has undergone months of rigorous testing and strict safety approval processes.

“I would therefore urge everyone invited for their vaccine, whether through GPs here in Oldham or through the regional site at the Etihad campus, to take up the offer and protect themselves. The vaccination programme is key to protecting people from this terrible virus and is crucial if we are all to return to our normal lives as soon as we possibly can.”

Six vaccination centres are now operational across Oldham, in addition to the Greater Manchester-wide vaccination centre at the Etihad campus.

Those registered with a GP in Oldham will be contacted directly from their practice or by an NHS representative when it is their turn to be vaccinated. The caller will not ask for money and will not ask for any personal details other than for the name to be confirmed.

People may also receive another invitation from the NHS, offering the option of attending the mass vaccination centre at the Etihad, or a local pharmacy. This regional offer is in addition to the vaccine rollout programme here in Oldham and gives more choice to people in terms of when and where they take up the vaccine, as well as providing extra capacity overall. If people have already booked an appointment for a vaccine through their GP, they can ignore the additional letter from the NHS.

Mike Barker, Chief Operating Officer at NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Staff across Team Oldham are doing an incredible job to deliver what it is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs medical care.

“But we need members of the public to play their part too. Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you. And when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments at exactly the time you’re asked to, so that we can avoid queues in this cold weather.

“Perhaps most importantly, please continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives, even if you have already had your vaccine. Coronavirus rates are coming down here in Oldham, but if we are to stop the spread, stay safe and save lives, we all need to keep playing our part.”

The first eligible people in the top priority group in Oldham received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Tuesday December 15 at Greenbank Medical Practice.

More information on the rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine in Oldham is available online here. We also know that myths are circulating around the safety of the vaccine. For more information on the facts behind the vaccine, please visit www.oldham.gov.uk/covidvaccination