Leek's lack of a walk-in Covid vaccination centre has been questioned by a community leader.

Currently residents wanting a jab have to travel several miles out of the district to the nearest walk-in centre, county councillor Charlotte Atkins has said.

Covid infection rates have been rising across the county in recent weeks. Latest figures have revealed that in the week ending Sunday, July 10, Staffordshire Moorlands District had an infection rate of 268.2 cases per 100,000 population.

The Staffordshire seven-day case rate during this time was 296.4 and the national rate was 303.1 per 100,000 population. The rise has prompted a plea from Staffordshire County Council for residents to continue following Covid-19 safety precautions and stay up to date with their vaccinations.

Councillor Atkins told members of the new Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated Care Board, which now oversees local health services, about the challenges faced by Leek residents seeking a vaccine. Speaking at a county council health scrutiny committee meeting on Monday she said: "I wondered why a town of over 20,000 people with an older population has not got a walk-in vaccination centre.

"We have a hospital and fire station in Leek and you're expecting people who don't have access to their own private transport to either travel 10 miles to Meir or six miles to Milton. That is just the perfect way of discouraging people from taking up vaccination opportunities, so what are you going to be doing about it?"

"What you're doing now is depleting the number of people who are going to come forward for a vaccination in Leek because you are not providing an accessible location. You're shooting yourselves in the foot."

Lynn Millar, director of primary care and medicines for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), responded: "We're still providing an evergreen offer for vaccinations across the summer and preparing for an autumn campaign. But what we have done is slowed down the vaccination over the summer because we have got fewer people coming forward and it's about managing that vaccine appropriately.

"What we are doing is putting pop-up vaccination sessions all over the county. We have got some walk-in sessions planned in Leek and I would be happy to share those dates and times – it will be in Leek Hospital."

Details of walk-in Covid vaccination clinics can be found at www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab.

Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Paul Northcott, said: "The rise in cases is a stark reminder that Covid has not gone away and residents should continue to follow the latest Covid-19 safety advice including washing your hands regularly, meeting others outdoors, keeping rooms well ventilated and staying up to date with your vaccinations.

"We must all play our part in keeping infection rates down to protect ourselves and others. This way, we can enjoy the summer holiday safely, whilst protecting our most vulnerable residents."