COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE

January 2021

Trentside Medical Group are pleased to announce that we are starting to see the arrival of the first COVID-19 vaccines for our patients. We are working with our colleagues in Primary Care to deliver these to our patients as soon as we receive them, on a rolling programme for the coming weeks/months.

Please note that we are all following the national guidelines and priorities as set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccine and Immunisations which means we are firstly prioritising Care Home residents, staff and then patients aged over 80. As the vaccines are being shared out nationally we will only be receiving our share. This means we have to prioritise within the eligible groups themselves in order to vaccinate the most vulnerable first.

All eligible patients will be contacted in due course in accordance with national priorities and when the vaccines are available to us. We understand the desire and urgency to receive the vaccine as early as possible, either for themselves or their relatives/friends but we do need your help. We ask you to please be as patient as possible and do not ring the surgery to try and book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment or you will overwhelm our ability to cope. As more and more vaccines become available and as per the national priorities, we will contact patients in an organised way that also enables us to continue providing our normal services as far as possible. Occasionally this could mean pre-booked appointments have to be moved at quite short notice. This is so staff can deliver these vaccines as they must be administered to patients within a specified time after delivery. We apologise in advance if you have an appointment that needs to be changed for this reason but we hope that you will understand.

Our staff, along with thousands of others across the country are excited to be able to start vaccinating against Covid-19 and we are working incredibly hard. We thank you in advance for your patience, cooperation and consideration of all staff during this process.

The Trentside Team

IMPORTANT RE COVID VACCINE APPOINTMENTS.

 7^th January 2021

We are aware that some people may be booking their COVID vaccine appointments at Richard Herrod Centre through Swift Queue without waiting for their official letter. Whilst this is permissible, it is for over 80 year olds only at this moment. Please be aware that if you book an appointment slot and you are NOT over 80 years of age, it will not be accepted at the receiving end, and you will be turned away when you get there. This means that the appointment will have been wasted and this will likely slow down the vaccine roll out programme, and delay your vaccine.

PLEASE don’t try to book in unless you are over 80years of age. Wait for NHS to write to you.

A plea from NHS staff:

Please make sure you and your family all dig out your NHS number and have a copy of it immediately to hand for when you or they are called for the COVID jab. From my colleagues on the front line this is far and away the biggest bottle neck when it comes to administering the vaccine to as many people as quickly as possible. Please also take ID with you e.g passport or driving licence.