We’re So excited
First patients’ joy as local GP surgeries start vaccine jabs... but it could take year to finish
THE first patients to receive a Covid jab at a GP surgery expressed their delight as the next stage of the vaccination drive begins today.
Family doctors have mobilised to run clinics from more than 100 locations and are being supported by nurses, paramedics and pharmacists.
GPs delivered their first jabs to a small number of patients yesterday but the effort will be ramped up from today.
However, leading scientists have warned it could take a year to immunise the whole UK population even with no interruptions in supply.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, SAGE adviser, made the warning alongside Bristol University’s
Prof Tim Cook. They said:
“The scale of the vaccination programme should not be underestimated.
“One thousand vaccination centres each vaccinating 500 people a day for five days a week, without interruptions would take almost a year to provide two doses to the population.” It is estimated that about 20% of the UK population may decline to receive the vaccine, but
Sir Jeremy and Professor Cook said that if 80% of people have the jab “there would finally be the prospect of a degree of herd immunity”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock calling for the terminally ill to be prioritised for vaccination.
Meanwhile, Gerry and Maureen Hughes, aged 81 and 84, are thought to be the first patients in England to receive the Pfizer jab at a GP surgery in England.
The couple, of Halesowen, West Midlands, made history at the town’s Feldon Lane Surgery. Maureen said she now hoped to be able to see relatives at Christmas, adding: “I can’t thank the people that have made this possible enough.”
Gerry said: “I think people don’t recognise what goes on behind the scenes - and logistically, what they have achieved in bringing these vaccines to a surgery, I think is fantastic.” Dr Gillian
The vaccine is our best opportunity to protect ourselves & each other
Love, clinical director of Halesowen Primary Care Network, said: “I would encourage anyone offered the Covid-19 vaccine to step forward when asked to do so. This is our opportunity to protect ourselves and each other.”
Halesowen GP partner Dr Mohit Mandiratta said: “It’s great we’ve got a bit of light to get us out of the dark tunnel.
“But it is important people continue to follow the guidelines because we’re not out of the woods yet.
“It’s so important that over Christmas people follow the national guidelines and continue to protect themselves and each other as much as possible.” Last week more than 70 UK hospital hubs began administering doses which have to be stored at -70C and can only be moved four times. More than 100,000 people, mainly over 80s and care home workers, were given a first dose with four million due this month.
NHS England confirmed “tens of thousands” got the jab last week, while Wales announced 6,000 doses administered and Scotland announced 18,000. Care homes are being visited by vaccinators in Scotland from Monday, in Wales from Wednesday and are likely to take place in England by the end if the week.
Vaccine recipients are observed for 15 minutes after their jab in case they suffer ff a reaction. In some cases temporary outdoor facilities next to GP-led clinics are being put up to hold hundreds during this observation period.
Mass vaccination centres in places such as football stadiums are not expected to be set up until next year.
Campaigners had called for the terminally ill to be prioritised, including 250,000 people undergoing palliative care in UK hospices.
The idea is to enable people such as Fred Banning, 38, of the East Renfrewshire area, near Glasgow, to stop shielding during their final months.
Dad-of-two Fred, who has stage four bowel cancer and has been given nine months to live, said: “That would be a wonderful Christmas present, not just for my family, but for thousands of others who have been unable to do the simple things in life that we take for granted.”
Mr Hancock told the House of Commons he would look in to the case.
The National Kidney Federation is also calling for dialysis patients to be raised up the priority ranking, which set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We follow advice from independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on which groups of people to prioritises. We understand this is challenging, the NHS is working hard to vaccinate those most at risk.”
Announcing vaccinations in care homes in Wales from Wednesday, health minister Vaughan Gething said: “If all goes well we will roll out vaccination at much greater pace ahead of Christmas.”
Russian scientists say their Sputnik V vaccine has passed the final clinical trial point with flying colours.
DR GILLIAN LOVE CLINICAL DIRECTOR