'Covid is still here' - Vaccination boss urges caution despite easing of restrictions

Bolton's vaccination supremo has urged people in the town to continue to take precautions to prevent Covid infection - and to get vaccinated when eligible.

The message from Dr Helen Wall is 'coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, but the virus is still here'.

As Bolton's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) continues to drive the message home, a range of walk-in vaccination clinics where over-16s can get any dose of the jab without an appointment have been announced.

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Dr Wall, senior responsible officer for Bolton’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: “Covid restrictions have been lifted but the virus has not gone away. Infection rates are still high in Bolton so making sure that you are fully vaccinated is as important as ever – it provides the best protection against becoming seriously ill and passing on Covid to others.

“The booster jab is particularly effective against the Omicron variant, and offers more protection than just one or two doses, so I’d urge everyone over 16 who is eligible for their booster to get it as soon as possible.

“People also need to make sure that they don’t get caught out if they are planning a foreign holiday or visiting friends and family abroad. You need to be fully vaccinated in many countries; Spain, for example, requires you to have a booster if your second dose was more than 270 days before you are travelling.

“Please check before you travel if you have a foreign trip on the horizon. Even better, get vaccinated now!”

Dr Wall added: “We’ve had people attending our walk-in clinics to ask for these jabs.

“It is great that people are keen to have