Vaccine site: NHS responds

Firstly, we would like to reassure your readers that we are aware of the feedback and strength of feeling about the location of vaccine services in Chichester.

Wearetakingtheseconcerns very seriously and working hard to address them. We are grateful for the opportunity to address some of these concerns.

Acommonquestioniswhythe servicesarenotinthecitycentre. There are a number of ways the vaccination programme is being rolled out to our communities – hospital hubs, large vaccination centres, a roving service for care homesandthehousebound,and GP-led vaccination services.

The way in which GP vaccinationservicesaredelivered has been agreed at a national level and each area is typically allocatedoneGP-ledvaccination site. Working with local GPs, we explored where we could best offer the vaccine to people in Chichester district.

Many sites in the city centre wereconsidered,suchascouncil buildings and the cathedral.

However, vaccination sites needtomeetastrictsetofnational criteria that include adequate parking, infection control standards, IT requirements and can commit to accommodating large numbers of people (300+) every day of the week with sole use as a vaccination centre until the autumn. As a result, many sites, some of which were more centrally located, were not suitable. As that vaccination programme continues to evolve – with new vaccines becoming available and new vaccination centres and pharmacy-led sites ready to go live in Sussex in the comingweeks–wewillcontinue to consider what other options may be available in Chichester district. If there are other opportunitieswewillsharethese as soon as possible.

Wearealsobeingaskedabout how the services are working, in particular when they are open. All of the GP-led vaccination services are working as hard as they can to offer the vaccine to those in the first priority groups as quickly as possible. Clinics are arranged when a delivery date for the vaccine is confirmed. At this point people are being contacted to make an appointment. Typically, at the moment,vaccinationstakeplace over three-day periods.

This is different to the flu vaccinationwhenappointments can be booked up for weeks and months in advance. As a result, no one should worry if they have not yet been contacted. The teams supporting the GP-led vaccination services contact eligible people as soon as appointments are available and this will continue to take place over the coming weeks. You may have seen the news this week that, in some parts of the country, vaccinations can start being offered to people over 70.

InChichesterDistrict,people agedover80,carehomeresidents and staff, and health and care workers remain the priority and people in these groups will be contacted first.

We want to assure everyone that our teams are working tirelessly and this programme is unprecedented in its scope