Village surgery starts to deliver Covid-19 vaccine

Roll-out steps up as doctors begin giving jabs to the elderly

Nine sites opened across Kent and Medway this week so GPs can start to deliver the Covid vaccine as cases of the virus continue to rise.

The centres, which will provide doses of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine, were the first to open in the county, with more locations due to be announced in the coming weeks.

It has been a huge logistical challenge with GP surgeries working around the clock to make sure everything is in place to be able to welcome the most vulnerable patients.

Four sites started operating on Tuesday, another four yesterday (Wednesday) and one today (Thursday).

Up to 17 are planned to open by the end of the week although details on all locations had yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

The roll-out will continue further in the New Year.

Dr Jack Jacobs, a GP at Hamstreet Surgery in Ruckinge Road, where the vaccine will start to be administered from tomorrow (Friday), said: “We’re really keen for people to come.

“It has been an enormous challenge. Although the vaccine has been given all the authorisation, just the practicalities and logistics has been a real significant challenge.

“General practice is taking on that challenge and working incredibly hard, incredibly long hours to meet it.”

Patients are being urged not to call surgeries to try and book a vaccination appointment – instead you will be contacted by phone, text or letter.

The focus is currently on patients who are aged 80 or over and can come to the vaccination sites.

Each site will start with 975

doses of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine which will be given to patients over three to five days. Two doses will be needed, taken a month apart.

However, Dr Jacobs adds: “It’s a very worrying time, I’m really worried about the pressure on hospitals at the moment as they appear to be very busy across the patch.

“So while we start this vaccination process, it’s just so vital that people listen to the rules.”

Picture: PA Nine vaccination sites are opening in Kent this week - including one at Hamstreet Surgery

Long before social distancing, Hamstreet Surgery was voted the best in Britain in 2005

Dr Jack Jacobs is a GP at Hamstreet Surgery