Covid jabs begin at 13 county and city GP surgeries
INVITATIONS BEING SENT OUT
ELIGIBLE patients registered at 13 city and county GP surgeries will begin receiving the Covid vaccine this week.
Those in priority groups registered with practices in the Bosworth and Millenium (Leicester) primary care networks will be called in for the jab.
The patients will be given the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination from GP-led vaccination centres.
David Brindley, 87, became the first patient in Leicestershire to receive the jab at the General’s hospital hub on Saturday.
More patients at other city and county surgeries are expected to open across LLR in the coming weeks.
The Mercury understands that the Leicester Racecourse will also be used as a mass vaccination centre as part of the programme.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) said that one practice will generally provide vaccines on behalf of all practices in the two groups. Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as
care home workers and residents, identified as priority groups for the life-saving vaccine.
Dr Gopi Boora, GP and clinical lead for Millennium Primary Care Network, who will be administering the first vaccine himself, said: “I am proud we are up and running with our vaccination programme and relieved the most vulnerable patients in our practices will, in a few weeks’ time, be protected against Covid-19.
“All our practices are in Leicester city and so our patients, in particular, have been living under the most severe restrictions for a considerable period of time. It has been very difficult for many of them being separated from family and feeling anxious about catching the disease.”
Caroline Trevithick, executive director of nursing, quality and performance for the CCGs, said: “We are delighted to be among the first areas in the country to get the GP-led part of the vaccination programme under way.
“All of our 25 primary care networks locally will be involved in delivering vaccines as the roll-out progresses. I would like to thank them for all their hard work to make this happen for local patients, alongside delivering flu vaccines and their usual care and services.
“It is important to recognise that this is the start of a long journey in the fight against coronavirus. We must all continue to remain vigilant and follow local Covid alert level restrictions and social distancing guidance while the vaccine is rolled out to all population groups.”
Some vaccinations will take place at GP practice premises and others will be at community vaccination centres, for example in council buildings.
Caroline added: “You will be contacted by your GP practice to book your vaccination when your turn comes and you will be advised where you need to go. Please do not contact your practice inquiring about the vaccine before then. It is also particularly important that you attend for both doses of the vaccine.”
Dr Will Priestman, GP and clinical lead for Bosworth Primary Care Network, said: “I am delighted to be one of the forerunners in the community vaccine programme and can start to bring hope to the older generation of our patients who have been most affected by the pandemic.
“Our four practices have pulled out all the stops to prepare for the vaccine and I would like to thank them for everything they have done. It is a very proud moment.”
People eligible for the vaccine will be contacted by their GP.