Fire Service supports NHS vaccination roll out with new dedicated phoneline
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is once again stepping up to help Greater Manchester respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and make sure as many people as possible are offered their COVID vaccinations this year.
Working together with Greater Manchester Health and Social Care (GMHSC) Partnership the Service has launched a dedicated phoneline to help members of the public who might struggle to access services online to find and book a COVID vaccination near them.
Members of the public can call 0161 608 4304 and colleagues will help them find local and convenient walk-in appointments or support with booking their appointments online.
The line is open Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm and colleagues from across GMFRS will be on the phones and have been trained by NHS partners to help find and book vaccination slots.
Not everyone can access services online and this new phoneline will help make booking a vaccination as straightforward as possible to make sure that the city-region is delivering as many vaccinations as it can.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stewart Forshaw said: “Throughout the pandemic colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have proven that they are ready, willing and able to support Greater Manchester to respond to the challenges of COVID.
“We are working closely with the NHS in Greater Manchester to provide a phoneline to make sure that it is as easy as possible for members of the public to get their COVID vaccinations.
“This is just the latest support the Service has offered, and we have already seen colleagues help with surge testing, carrying out lateral flow tests in schools, providing information in the community and storing and distributing millions of items of PPE.”
Jane Pilkington, Director of Population Health (interim) at Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said: “As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread, our priority is getting as many people in to have their booster vaccination before the new year as we possibly can. We’re also keen that anyone who hasn’t yet had a first or second vaccination to get jabbed, because some protection is better than none.
“We recognise that not everyone can get online to search for or book into a vaccination centre near them. So that’s why we are extremely grateful to GMFRS for stepping up to set up the new helpline and give people across Greater Manchester a vital helping hand to find a COVID-19 vaccine appointment to suit.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is our best defence against the virus, and we would encourage everyone to get their booster – or a first or second vaccination if needed – at the earliest opportunity.”
You can find more information about COVID vaccinations in Wigan and Leigh here.
