A community hero and local pharmacist has been recognised by his field with a Fellowship.

Andrew Hodgson, owner of Andrews Pharmacy on Macclesfield's Kennedy Avenue, has been appointed a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

This is in recognition of his remarkable contribution in supporting the local coronavirus vaccination programme and his wider work in the community.

The hard work started early on. Andrews was the first pharmacy to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in the North West.

On January 14 2021 at 8am, 82-year-old Robert Salt became one of the first in the country to receive his jab from Andrew, who also serves as Chief Pharmacist for the store.

Fast-forward to today, Macclesfield MP David Rutley has met with Mr Hodgson recently to congratulate him on this much-deserved award.

Both men - aged 60 - met outside the pharmacy, which sits in front of a carpark.

Macclesfield's MP since 2010 said, "This honour is richly deserved."

"Andrews Pharmacy has been a much-valued part of the local health landscape for three decades, and its role in protecting residents against COVID is truly impressive."

The fellowship is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed upon those working in the pharmacy profession.

It can only be awarded following nomination by other Royal Pharmaceutical Society members.

It is limited to pharmacists who have shown particular distinction in the course of their careers.

This makes the honour all the more special, as it shows how highly regarded the recipient is by the wider profession.

"Andrew, his team, and all those who continue to volunteer at the pharmacy deserve our thanks for the dedicated service they give," added the Conservative MP.

"And I wish them continued success with this vital work into the future."

There is no doubt that Mr Hodgson and his team have played a key role in the success of Macc's vaccine programme.

They have administered over 100,000 first, second and booster jabs.

In the Macclesfield Upton Priory & Greenside ward, where the pharmacy resides, 89.6% of the elgible population have had at least one coronavirus jab

Please note: this figure is as of March 2 2022.

The team have gone above and beyond to reach as many local residents as possible, recently hosting a pop-up vaccine clinic outside their ward at Macclesfield FC.

Mr Rutley and Mr Hodgson agreed that it is positive that vaccination rates across our area remain very high, and that increasing numbers of people who have not yet been jabbed are coming forward to get protected.

It is never too late to be vaccinated, and details of future walk-in clinics at the pharmacy can be found here.

Spurred on by Andrew's Fellowship, the future for the pharmacy looks bright.

They will hope to develop their Travel Medicines Service, as well as making preparations to develop the NHS Weight Management and Blood Pressure services in the coming months.

1. 5% of those aged 12 and over in Macclesfield Upton Priory & Greenside have had a second jab, meanwhile 70.5% have had a booster jab.

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