Labour-run Calderdale Council will be doing everything possible to support the drive to get people vaccinated with the Covid booster, Labour leader Cllr Tim Swift promised.

Cllr Swift said:

“Health teams, council colleagues and others across Calderdale have gone above and beyond already to deliver Covid 19 vaccines, and I know that they will rise to the new challenge of delivering additional boosters as quickly as possible.

“Within hours of the announcement last night, discussions were already underway not just to make best possible use of the new drop in facility at Salem Methodist Church, but also to extend opening hours and increase staffing at locations throughout the Borough.

“It’s also important that we don’t forget that there are too many people who – for whatever reason – have so far not taken up their first two jabs. Now is not the time for recrimination or blame – to keep everyone safe, we need everyone vaccinate. So I also want to urge anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to make a start now.”

Cllr Swift said he was disappointed about the lack of further Government measures to protect schools. “The last few weeks have shown that the modest additional steps we have taken in local schools have reduced cases – and actually over time have meant less disruption for children’s education”, he said. “We all want to keep children in school, but do so safely, and we need the Government to do more to support this.”