Club opens doors for vaccination sessions
PLUS: More vaccines on way
GP PRACTICES unable to get enough Covid-19 vaccines will be able to access more supplies that are expected to arrive within days to Hywel Dda Health Board (HDUHB)
Health board bosses have moved to assure GPS and the public that more vaccines are on their way and explained that a national registration system in England allowing GPS to order vaccines directly is not available in Wales.
Jill Paterson, director of primary care, community and long-term care at HDUHB, said: “From Monday, those practices for which we have not been able to arrange direct orders of their vaccines will be able to access supplies coming into the health board.
“We have also been advised that the vaccine supply is significantly greater than originally advised, though quality assurance processes and formal release confirmation is awaited.”
Frustration with the vaccine plan so far caused a Llanelli GP to brand the vaccine rollout in West Wales as “shambolic” as doctors’ surgeries across Wales complained about the number of doses of the vaccine they have received.
Dr Dai Hickman, a GP partner at Avenue Villa Surgery in Llanelli, said he wasn’t able to order any jabs until January 25.
He said that instead of providing each surgery with a “small and steady” supply of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine, Hywel Dda Health Board was allocating them in turn, meaning some patients were waiting much longer than others.
Dr Hickman, 41, said: “Instead of letting the practices have a small and steady supply from the off, every practice has to apply for stock. We have been told that we can order our supply on January 25.
“By the time that arrives and you get started it will be February. Time is of the essence.
“We were told that we would be able to order from January 11 but then that was changed quite late last week. I appreciate there is a supply issue but my patients are just as vulnerable as any other practice’s.”
Dr Hickman, who has been based at the Llanelli surgery for 12 years, said that there “doesn’t appear to be any logic” in the way the situation has been handled.
He posted a statement on social media sharing his views on what he referred to as the “shambolic” handling of the rollout in the area which he also said was “not good enough”.
Mrs Paterson, in response to Dr Hickman’s concerns, said: “We recognise and understand the huge amount of interest in the vaccination programme and we are aware of Dr Hickman’s concerns.
“We’re pleased that all GP practices in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have signed up to deliver the vaccine to priority groups 1 and 2.
“We will be looking to extend our commissioning arrangements in line with our vaccination plan over the next few weeks, which will include community pharmacies.
“Our hope is that all practices in the Hywel Dda area will be registered and able to draw down supplies directly in the shortest possible time.
“It’s important to explain that there is a national registration system in place to enable direct orders and deliveries to practices.
She added: “All practices who have been able to order vaccines have been advised that they should be sharing with their neighbouring practices to ensure they are vaccinating their care home residents as a priority.
“In the meantime, it’s important that we continue to provide information that is appropriate and correct in order to avoid causing unnecessary concern for our patients.”