1,200 jabs at local GPS
A BUMPER batch of 1,200 doses of the new Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is being delivered to local GPS this week, as staff and volunteers work around the clock to vaccinate all key groups in the area.
St Oswald’s Hospital in Clifton Road has remained a central hub for the roll-out of the Pfizer/biontech vaccine and, across four practice areas, another 1,200 patients were given the jab last week alone.
The arrival of the Oxford vaccine, which is easier to transport and store, will mean vaccines can be brought to the homes of house-bound patients while they isolate, instead of them having to travel to a hub.
Penny Blackwell, a GP at Wirksworth’s Hannage Brook Medical Centre, has been updating people on the progress of the area’s vaccine roll-out on the surgery’s Facebook page.
In her latest update on Sunday she praised the communities for getting to St Oswald’s Hospital despite a spell of snow and ice, and explained how well the programme was going.
She said: “The St Oswald’s hub has been working really, really well last week, despite having snow - you did really well getting down.
“Four practices and DCHS (Derbyshire Community Health Services) have vaccinated another 1,200 patients, which is brilliant. And a big shout out to staff and volunteers for helping us do that.
“We had fewer DNAS (Did Not Attend) this week and we’ve had a really good reserve list of people and they’ve been in place if we’ve got vaccine left over.
“So we really appreciate those of you who have been called out last-minute and managed to get to St Oswald’s, as none of us have wanted to leave until the last drop of vaccine is delivered.”
Dr Blackwell said the staff were busy registering volunteers to help with the effort, after a strong show of support, and then she went on to explain how the Oxford vaccine will be delivered.
She said: “This week each practice will target our own house-bound patients, taking nursing staff and healthcare assistants out of the practice to deliver this.
“So do bear with us if perhaps blood test appointments aren’t available as they would be normally, or other appointments.
“It’s because we are having to use our staff to deliver the house-bound vaccines.”
The local roll-out of the Oxford vaccine will give surgeries a chance to finish inoculating all patients classed as “clinically extremely vulnerable”, and they can then also finish giving the jabs to the over80s and over-75s. The current mandate, Dr Blackwell added, was to follow current guidelines and give as many people as possible the first vaccine dose and “worry about the second one” once the 11-week mark is reached.
The more people who are vaccinated, she added, the more protection there will be for everybody thanks to an increase in herd immunity.
This week each practice will target our own house-bound patients
Dr Penny Blackwell