Bolton will start its Covid-19 vaccination programme in the community from Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
A total of 975 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are expected to be administered over three and a half days.
The first people to receive the vaccine will be those registered at six practices within the Turton Primary Care Network (PCN).
Vaccination will take place at Tonge Moor Health Centre, Thicketford Road, Bolton.
Primary Care Networks are groups of practices working together to manage the health of their local population.
Turton PCN had to meet strict criteria as set out by NHS England to host the first phase of the vaccination programme, based on safety, social distancing and number of patients aged 80 and over.
Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Bolton, and Clinical Director of Commissioning at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Wall, said: “I am delighted that Bolton is able to play its part in the national vaccination programme and excited to get it up and running.
“A lot of people have worked extremely hard to ensure this is a success and I’d like to thank everyone for their commitment. We appreciate there is great public interest in this, but we have been unable to release any details until now as this is a nationally directed programme that is subject to last minute changes.”
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Cllr Sue Baines, added: “I know this will be welcome news to everyone in Bolton who has worked hard and made sacrifices to protect the NHS and keep the most vulnerable members of the community safe.
“The vaccine is a significant step towards a return to normal and allowing us to spend time with family and friends.
“This is a major logistical operation, and it will take time before everyone can be vaccinated. I urge everyone to be patient and to continue following the restrictions.”
The site is not a drop-in facility, and vaccination is by appointment only. Patients will have received an invitation from their GP practice.
Further phases of the vaccination programme are also planned to take place over the next few weeks, with planning under way to vaccinate the rest of the borough’s octogenarians.
Residents are advised to await the invitation from their GP, but please bear with them as plans are finalised for the rest of the borough.
The practices which form part of Turton PCN are: Harwood Medical Centre; The Oaks Family Practice; Mandalay Medical Centre; Edgeworth Medical Centre; Crompton View Surgery; Egerton and Dunscar Health Centre.