Councilor Charles Margetts (Conservative, Finchampstead North), executive health member of Wokingham Borough Council, has urged NHS authorities to set up a centre.

However, in order to establish a walk-in centre, the council needs the help of the West Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the region’s Integrated Care System (ICS).

Cllr Margetts said: ‘We fully recognize that the number of cases is high, there is no doubt about that.

“Our message is to maximize protection through vaccination, which means encouraging the 13-14% who did not receive the second vaccine and those who did not have a booster to get vaccinated and get their booster shots.

“We continue to have real concerns about the approach of West Berkshire CCG’s vaccination campaign.”

READ MORE: Over 1,000 cases of coronavirus recorded in Berkshire over the weekend

He argued that the GCC and ICS should help the council set up a longer-term on-demand vaccination site.

Cllr Margetts explained: “The council was responsible for running the two-week vaccination center at Bulmershe.

“It was a huge success.

“Four thousand people were vaccinated in two weeks. We think the adoption would be really helped if the CCG supported this. »

So far, people in Wokingham Borough can get vaccinated via appointment at doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies.

But cllr Margetts and cllr Deputy Executive Member for Health Phil Cunnington (Conservative, Norreys) have argued that a permanent walk-in vaccination center in the borough of Wokingham is needed.

This was after it took around two to three hours for cllr Margetts’ son to be vaccinated at the Broad Street Mall in Reading.

Cllr Margetts explained: ‘My 16 year old son was called in for one of his shots at the Broad Street Mall at 12pm.

“That meant my wife had to drive from Finchampstead to Wokingham and then from there to Reading and then back to her school and home.

“All in all, it’s a two to three hour logistics exercise.

“I and my deputy member cllr Cunnington raised these points with Dr James Kent, the head of ICS.

“We are in negotiations to get more walk-in centers and I am still suing them for a response.”

READ MORE: These UK travel rules change as Covid cases continue to drop

A West Berkshire CCG spokesperson said members of the public can get vaccinated at pharmacies and surgeries in Wokingham, including Burma Hills Surgery in Ashridge Road, and on temporary vaccination buses.

The spokesperson said: “Covid vaccinations are available at a number of sites around Wokingham and also at nearby sites, including the mass vaccination site at Broad Street Mall, Reading.

“In addition, the Health on the Move Van held a walk-in vaccination session at Wokingham Library on Tuesday 1 February, and the dates for future sessions in and near Wokingham are as follows:

Dated

Address

Time

02/28/2022

Finchampstead Baptist Center (FBC), Gorse Ride N, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4ES

10.00-16.00

03/01/2022

FBC Center

Gorse Ride N, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4ES

10.00-16.00

03/04/2022

Rainbow Center Rainbow Park, Winnersh, Wokingham RG41 5SG

10.00-16.00

03/02/2022

Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Cl, Earley, Reading RG6 5HZ

10.00-16.00

03/06/2022

Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Cl, Earley, Reading RG6 5HZ

10.00-16.00

The spokesperson added: “We encourage everyone who is eligible to get the Covid shot as it has proven to be the most effective way to protect yourself and help stop the spread of the virus.”

160 new cases of covid-19 were reported on Monday February 14.

In the borough of Wokingham, 87.8% of the population received a first dose, 83.6% received a second dose and 68.4% of people received a third vaccine or a booster.