6 | NEWS
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
‘Booster roll-out Christmas cheer for pig charity not fast enough’ By NAT BURTON news@wokingham.today
EXCLUSIVE
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today THE ROLL-OUT of Covid-19 booster jabs in the over-50s will miss the Christmas deadline, according to predictions.
Across England, around 230,000 people are being given their third jab each day, reported the i. But this will miss the Government’s Christmas deadline of delivering a booster jab to all over 50s. Instead, it is predicted to take until the start of February to complete. This has raised concerns about families mixing indoors over Christmas. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health at the borough council, said that he is calling for urgent action from Berkshire West CCG to increase the booster jab programme. He said that with just two pharmacies in Wokingham borough offering the jabs, it is “simply not good enough”. The mobile vaccination service is also not operating at the moment. Cllr Margetts said nine care homes in the borough are yet to receive any booster jabs, and is
concerned the CCG is not offering this third jab to care home staff. “[This is] possibly presenting a route into care homes for covid,” he said. While the number of people getting their booster jab is increasing nationally, it is significantly lower than the number of first doses that were administered when the vaccination programme began last December. And data show the gap between the number of over-50s eligible for their booster jab, and those who have received it, is widening. Cllr Margetts said the roll-out this time around is too slow, and the borough is far behind the national trend when it comes to ages 65 to 69, and residents with no underlying health conditions. He is also concerned about “how poor the take up of the flu vaccination is”. Borough residents can get their second, or third booster jab in Wokingham town centre at Rose Street pharmacy and at Tesco’s pharmacy on Finchampstead Road. Jabs are also avaliable at Newdays pharmacy in Twyford. There are also sites open in Reading and Bracknell.
n To book or manage a coronavirus vaccine, visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions
EVENT organisers were bowled over by fundraising success at the weekend. Spencers Wood residents enjoyed a Christmas fayre in aid of Little Pigs at Home on Saturday. Held in the village hall, the fayre was organised by charity founders Susan and Aaron Player. Hippo, one of the Players’ three pet pigs, helped raise £775 for the non-profit organisation. Fayre-goers paid 50p for the opportunity to feed him, an attraction that proved so popular with children that it had to be stopped. “We didn’t want him to be overfed,” Ms Player said: “He was enjoying all the attention so much.” The family-friendly event also had a range of treats and stalls to tempt shoppers, including pig-themed cupcakes and handmade Christmas decorations. The tombola and raffle also proved popular. Ms Player has been encouraged by the total raised, which was more than expected. She said: “I am really thankful for the community’s support. The atmosphere was lovely and I would definitely run a similar event in the village hall again.” She thinks that the uniqueness of her work helped the event create interest, as pigs are not typically kept as pets. Neither are they thought of as animals needing rescue. The Players have been involved in several pig rescues since setting up their charity. They have visited some animal
HOST: Susan Player (above), founder of Little Pigs at Home, is fundraising to open a sanctuary All pictures: Phil Creighton sanctuaries which Ms Player said has broadened their horizons and spurred them on in their ambitions to open their own. Aside from pig rescue, the Players are keen to educate members of the public about pigs as domestic animals. They welcome small family groups into their home for visits to see Hippo, as well as their other pigs, Rose and Tulip. n For more information, visit: www. facebook.com/weloveyoutenmillion
