Ashton Gate Vaccinations could begin at stadium hub within days
AHUGE community vaccination programme could get underway in Bristol as early as next week following the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine.
The British-developed vaccine has been approved by the Government’s independent regulatory authority, and the first doses are expected to be given out as early as Monday.
The UK Government has ordered 100 million of the jabs, enough to vaccinate 50 million people, and a huge roll-out of the vaccine is now being planned.
The Oxford AZ vaccine is a different vaccine to the one from Pfizer that is already being used to inoculate elderly people, NHS staff and care home staff.
There are limited numbers of that vaccine and it has to be stored at -70C, whereas the cheaper Oxford vaccine is more easily transported and can be stored in the fridge.
That will mean GP surgeries and pharmacies across Bristol can assist with the mass vaccination programme, which is expected to follow a similar programme as the annual autumn flu vaccinations, with those at highest risk and older people being given the jab first.
Early in December, the army set up a huge community vaccination base at Ashton Gate stadium, and the Post understands it is now ready to be utilised to vaccinate large numbers of people every day.
Inside the South Stand concourse, dozens of cubicles have been set up with hospital screens, with reception areas and separate entrance and exits mapped out.
Back in early December, in a report to the UHBW Trust board, Healthier Together Bristol outlined the kind of numbers involved in a mass inoculation programme.
The report said Ashton Gate had been identified as a potential site for the mass vaccinations and that it would be open 12 hours every day. The report also estimated that between 75,000 and 110,000 people in the city, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will receive vaccines every week at a combination of GP surgeries, pharmacies, special clinics set up in community centres, schools and other locations – just like the flu vaccine each year – and at sites like Ashton Gate.
The boss of Ashton Gate Stadium Mark Kelly said on Wednesday morning that the stadium was ready.
“Great news that the Oxford vaccine has been approved,” he said. “Ashton Gate Stadium should now be able to facilitate the Bristol and South West hub.”
South Bristol MP Karin Smyth said she hoped the NHS and GP surgeries would lead the vaccination programme.
“Great news this morning on the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine,” she said.
“The best of collaboration, public/private investment and innovation – a tremendous achievement for all concerned. Now for the best of NHS primary care, properly supported to roll it out.”
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees also welcomed the news, saying: “Fantastic news that another vaccine has been approved. Despite the concerning increase in cases, we can enter 2021 with hope,” he said.
Across Britain, as many as two million patients per week could soon be being vaccinated with either the Oxford vaccine, or the
Pfizer one. So far this month 600,000 of the most vulnerable, over-80s and NHS staff have received their first dose, with those who were the very first to receive that dose now getting their second, booster shot.
The NHS authorities in Bristol have so far set up 14 vaccination stations for the Pfizer vaccine, with thousands of people in Bristol already having had the first jab.
The first was at Southmead Hospital, and more have followed at four medical centres in Kingswood, Weston-super-Mare, Southmead and Langford in North Somerset.
Since then, a further nine GP surgeries have taken delivery of some of the Pfizer vaccine – at Clifton College, Bedminster, Horfield, Brockway in North Somerset, Yate, Fishponds, the Christchurch medical centre in South Gloucestershire, Shirehampton and Portishead.
Wth the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine now due in much larger quantities, GP surgeries, pharmacies and major community vaccination sites like Ashton Gate are expected to receive their doses as early as next week.
The message from the NHS in Bristol is to continue to follow the guidelines, and to wait to hear from your GP about the vaccine.
Dr Neil Kerfoot, a GP in South Gloucestershire, said residents of care homes have been delighted to receive the Pfizer vaccine already.
“The residents our doctors have spoken to this week have been delighted to receive the vaccine and are looking forward to life getting back to normal – although everyone recognises that will take a bit of time and we still need to do everything we can to limit the spread of the virus,” he said.
“The NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. There is no need to contact your GP or local hospital,” a spokesperson for the Bristol, South Gloucestershire & North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group said.
❝ The best of collaboration, public/private investment and innovation – a tremendous achievement for all concerned South Bristol MP Karin Smyth