Wythenshawe chosen as first location for community-based vaccination rollout in Manchester

Wythenshawe has been chosen as the first area in Manchester to see community-based coronavirus vaccinations rolled out from next week.

From next Wednesday, December 16th, any residents of Manchester aged 80 and over can travel to a site in Wythenshawe to get the vaccine, with those eligible set to receive a letter or call from their GP.

The vaccinations will be happening at the Woodhouse Park Active Lifestyle Centre on Portway, M22 1QW, and it’s understood that the vaccine won’t be stored on site.



It’s thought that Wythenshawe was chosen as the first site in Manchester partly due to its high levels of deprivation and large proportion of residents aged 80 and over.

As well as this, the area has good public transport links meaning people can easily travel in to receive the vaccine, however, those who can’t travel will have alternative arrangements made for them.

After receiving the first jab, people will get a secondary booster injection 21 days afterwards.

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This scheme is a separate one to the vaccinations happening at hospitals across Greater Manchester and the rest of the country, with jabs across the nation being administered on a priority system.

The elderly, NHS and care staff are being vaccinated first, followed by at-risk medical groups and then eventually the population at large.

However, people are still being advised to maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and wear a mask to help stop the spread of the virus, as the vaccination rollout will be gradual.

Councillor Bev Craig, the Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing at Manchester City Council, said: “The coming weeks will be crucial for Manchester as we work to get this vaccine to the people who need it most.

“This is the first bit of light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel. The work we will begin next week is a positive start but we do face a long road ahead.

“Our priority will be protecting our older residents, medically vulnerable people and our NHS and care workers who have been putting themselves at risk this entire year.

“As the vaccine is rolled out we will still need to be vigilant and take the precautions which have become commonplace since March. Mancunians have shown just how resilient they can be and I have no doubt this resolve will continue.”