COVID VACCINATION PROGRAMME 19th January 2021
Our GP Federation, SDHC, is delivering the vaccination programme on behalf of the Practice. They are currently working through the Governments national priority list of people who need to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. As of today, over 50% of over 80 year olds have received a vaccination. By the end of today, 19 January 2021, SDHC will have attempted to contact all patients on the list at least once.
If patients who are over the age of 80 have not heard from SDHC Thursday 21st of January, an appointment letter will be sent to them. The letter will detail their appointment date and time. This should arrive with patients within the next two or three days, post allowing, and the appointments will be from Sunday 23rd onwards.
Following patient feedback, appointments will be offered between 10.00 and 15.00. The aim is to complete the first vaccination for the vast majority of over 80 vaccinations by Saturday 30th January.
At the same time that the over 80’s are being called, the Government has also asked that other groups are prioritised for vaccinations. These include health and social care workers, care home residents and staff.
You are probably also aware that the Government has also asked that people over 70 and the extremely clinically vulnerable start being called for vaccinations. We continue to prioritise the over 80s before moving onto the next group of patients. Please be assured that we are vaccinating people as fast as we can, in line with government priorities and within the limited supply of vaccines we have received to date.
You will be hearing from SDHC very soon. Please DO NOT contact your Practice about the Covid vaccination programme.
4th January 2021
We are pleased to advise that our practice is part of the National Vaccination programme which will take place at hospitals and other local settings. We are following detailed national NHS guidance. In summary:
You will not be vaccinated at the Practice at this time - this is because of the issues with storage and transportation of the current vaccine. We are asking patients to attend a vaccination centre in Eastbourne. This will be confirmed when you book an appointment.
You may be contacted directly by the vaccination centre - with our agreement and to help the prctice manage the large volumes of calls we anticipate will be generated by this effort, it is likely that the vaccination centre (provided by our local GP Federation) will contact you directly to arrange your appointment.
Patients will be invited for vaccinations in line with National Guidelines - please be patient as we work through the priority list.
Please do not contact the Practice about appointment availability or when you are likely to be called for you vaccination - We do not have any further information at the moment.
**COVID VACCINE UPDATE - DECEMBER 2020**
The NHS is rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations across Sussex. People are being invited to an appointment in order of national guidance, starting with those over 80. You don't need to call the Surgery - you will be contacted as soon as the NHS is able to offer you the vaccination. For further information please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Thank you for your support
You do not require your NHS number to receive your Covid vaccination - please do not contact the surgery as we are unable to provide this over the telephone. You can find your NHS number on hospital letters, repeat prescription slips or by the NHS APP and patient access. Information on how to download these apps can be found under the appointments tab.
Dr Writer has created a Q&A sheet of frequently asked questions. Please read our attached Q&A sheet.