A weekly update on what's happening in Oldham and the latest Covid news and guidance

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Staying on track: Let's keep slowing the vaccine

While our Covid rates have reduced slightly this week, to 272 per 100,000, we're still the fourth highest in Greater Manchester and higher than the national average. We want to continue the decline and so we're making sure you're as informed as possible about what's happening in our borough and any changes in national guidance.

Here's some information from this week's developments on the Covid front:

12 to 15-year-olds
Young people aged 12 to 15 years are being offered the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The UK’s Chief Medical Officers all agree that while COVID-19 is typically mild or asymptomatic in most young people, it can be very serious for some, and one dose of the vaccine will provide good protection against severe illness and hospitalisation. Vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds should also help to reduce the need for young people to have time off school and reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 within schools.

Work is underway to obtain consent from parents and this process will be facilitated through the School Nursing Service who provide other school aged vaccinations so parents will not have to worry about taking their children to a clinic or booking an appointment for them. This vaccination programme should be completed by 15 November.

We understand that parents might have concerns around getting their child vaccinated which is completely normal. You can read more about why this programme is going ahead on the Government’s website: Why you should have your child vaccinated ([link removed])

16 and 17-year-olds
It’s now easier than ever for 16 and 17 year olds to get their COVID-19 vaccine as they can now use the national booking system to get an appointment.

The national booking system makes it quick and simple to get a jab via this NHS web page: Book or manage a COVID-19 vaccine ([link removed])
Booster jabs
The Covid-19 vaccine booster campaign (third dose) is now underway. All those people who received a vaccination in the first phase of the vaccination programme (priority groups 1 to 9) will be offered a third dose Covid-19 booster vaccine within six months of their second dose.

They should wait to be contacted by their GP before being able to book a vaccination, and can not attend our walk-in clinics.

Those eligible for a booster vaccine include:
* Those living in residential care homes
* All adults aged 50 years or over
* Frontline health and social care workers
* All those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid, and adult carers
* Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

Regardless of what type of vaccine was administered for doses 1 and 2, the third dose will be Pfizer or Moderna.
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We continue to encourage anyone over the age of 16 to take up their vaccine now, by visiting our walk-in clinics across the borough or booking an appointment through the online booking system ([link removed])

View our full list of vaccination walk-in clinics, including some local pharmacy drop-ins, on our Coronavirus Vaccination Page ([link removed])


** Celebrating Black History Month
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We're celebrating Black History Month this October, with a series of exhibitions and performances throughout Oldham.

As part of our Live@TheLibrary programme, our Heritage, Libraries, and Arts Services have lots of activities in person and online. Here's a handful of the cultural highlights:

Oreo (pictured above), a one-women show which explores the masks we wear to put our heads above the parapet, in a climate of systemic racism.

The Legacies of Biafra, an exhibition at Gallery Oldham, features works from the artistic collective; Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK), which will be exhibited alongside archival materials on the war in Biafra, as well as a selection of short films on the topic.

Hidden Figures, the cinematic story of three black female mathematicians that played a vital part in NASA’s space race, will showcase at the Small Cinema at Oldham Library. Based on the 2017 novel by Margot Lee Shetterly (Adult screening).

View the full programme of what’s on in Oldham and how to get tickets go to www.oldham.gov.uk/liveatthelibrary

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Stay warm this wiBoiler image nter

If you're worried about the rise in energy prices, heating your home or paying your bills – help is available.

There is a range of grant schemes and support, including free boiler replacements and help with switching your energy supplier or fixing your tariff.

Our dedicated team can assess your situation and advise you on your options.
This is free service for Oldham residents.

For further details, visit: www.warmhomesoldham.org

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School admissions now open

Is your child due to start Primary or Secondary School in September 2022?

Primary School admissions – If your child was born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018, you will need to apply for a place in reception by 5pm on 15 January 2022.

Attendance at a school nursery does not guarantee a place in a reception class. Parents must make a separate application for admission to reception classes.

Secondary School admissions – If your child was born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011, you will need to apply for a place at secondary school by 5pm on 31 October 2021.

For more information, you can contact the School Admissions team on 0161 770 4213 or you can visit School Admissions ([link removed] )

Share your experience of poverty in Oldham

The Oldham Poverty Truth Commission, a year-long exploration of poverty in Oldham, is set to launch on Monday, 27 September. The Commission will bring together people with real experience of hardship with others who have the power, influence and authority to do something about it.

To inform their work, a survey has been launched to develop as full a picture as possible of poverty in Oldham. Answers to the survey questions will be collected anonymously by the Commission partners and analysed by the Commissioners to help guide their work.

Oldham's Poverty Truth Commission is jointly managed by Action Together, Shared Health Foundation and Oldham Council. It is part of the national Poverty Truth Network, and more information is available at www.povertytruthnetwork.org

Tackling poverty is incredibly important to us and understanding the realities of the borough's poverty is essential in improving people's lives. So we're helping to gather as many people’s stories as possible. To share your experiences, complete this online survey: Poverty Truth Commission Survey ([link removed])
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