Vaccination centres open as race begins to overtake virus
TWO coronavirus vaccination sites in Rushmoor have begun treating residents from across the area, a development described by Aldershot MP Leo Docherty as a move that sees ‘the light at the end of the tunnel get ever brighter’.
Opened on Thursday, volunteers and healthcare professionals have been busy vaccinating people at coronavirus vaccine hubs at the Princes Hall in Aldershot, and at the former Southwood Surgery site in Farnborough.
Residents in the 80-and-over category and healthcare staff, groups at the greatest risk of harm from the virus, were the first in line to receive their jab after being contacted by local NHS staff.
Across the two sites, in addition to those already being vaccinated in local care homes, more than 2,000 Rushmoor residents were expected to have been vaccinated by Saturday. Volunteers helping out at the centres have also been vaccinated.
The opening of the two centres will come as a welcome relief to many residents, with the area’s coronavirus rate currently the highest in Hampshire.
Dr Louise Payne GP and PCN clinical director in Aldershot said: “It is wonderful to be able to begin the vaccination programme in Aldershot.
“Everyone involved in the project has worked tirelessly over the last few weeks to get the sites up and running, and we are proud to play a part in protecting our residents and frontline healthcare staff.”
Dr Alice Earl, GP and joint PCN clinical director for Farnborough said: “We are delighted to start welcoming people for vaccinations at Southwood Surgery. Bringing these sites together has been a true collaborative effort among the primary care teams and our joint management team across Rushmoor.
“I would like to thank everyone for their commitment and going above and beyond to both launching the sites and delivering the vaccinations over the coming weeks.”
Aldershot MP Mr Docherty and Rushmoor Borough Council leader Cllr David Clifford were both invited to see the first vaccinations being delivered.
Mr Docherty said: “I am delighted that two local vaccination hubs have opened across Rushmoor – Princes Hall Aldershot, and the former Southwood Surgery in Farnborough.
“Across these two sites, in addition to those already being vaccinated in local care homes, we are on track to vaccinate over 2,000 frontline health and social care staff and residents over 80 by Saturday.
“This is an enormous achievement and represents a culmination of months of extraordinarily hard work by our NHS across the North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG area – particularly the staff and
GPs of Aldershot and Farnborough’s Primary Care Networks.
“As we continue our world-leading efforts to tackle this virus, we remain committed to vaccinating everyone in the top four priority groups by February 15 – and to save lives as fast as possible.”
Vaccination services have also recently launched locally in Yateley and in Camberley and Farnham.
Mr Docherty added: “Local NHS staff will let you know when it’s your turn to receive the vaccine, so please don’t contact your GP surgery or local hospital before then.
“There will be many long weeks ahead that will require us, as a country, to once again make huge sacrifices, but thanks to the extraordinary work of our scientists, our NHS and the resolve of our local community, we have a path to beating this virus.
“That light at the end of the tunnel is getting ever brighter with every further vaccine dose delivered.”