Two locations named as Covid-19 vaccination centres

IT HAS been revealed where in the community Covid-19 vaccinations will start this week.

Kingston Crescent Surgery in North End and Fareham Community Hospital are among the GP-led centres that will be take delivery of the Pfizer vaccine today and start clinics this afternoon and tomorrow for those aged over 80 as well as care home staff and other vulnerable residents. It comes after hospital hubs across England began vaccinations last week, including one at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and clinical lead for business and partnerships at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership of CCGs, said: ‘This is a very big moment for lots of people.

‘For those of us working in surgeries across Hampshire it is a huge task, but also a real privilege to be part of this national effort to protect ourselves from the virus.’

The NHS is contacting people when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and residents are urged not to contact their surgery.

Dr Nisbet said: ‘We would love to be able to vaccinate everyone, immediately, but clearly that is not going to be possible. I would urge everyone to be patient – GP surgeries across the county will contact you when we can offer you the vaccine, and we will start with the most vulnerable people first.

‘The development of this vaccine, and hopefully others as well, is fantastic news but we must still take care to protect ourselves, and those around us.’

Chief executive of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, which runs the hospital in Cosham, Mark Cubbon told The News last Wednesday, on the first day of vaccinations, that it was a ‘historic day’ for the city but the vaccine was not a quick fix to the pandemic.

The other GP led sites going live with vaccination clinics this week include Festival Hall, Petersfield, Bursledon Surgery, St Peters Surgery, Southampton and Carisbrooke Health Centre, Isle of Wight.