80% of people vaccinated from top nine priority groups
The enthusiasm of local people to get vaccinated remains high. The latest figures show that across all nine of the priority groups we have already given at least one dose to 80% of those eligible. The take up within the different priority groups is as follows:
- Cohorts 1-4 (over 70 years, health and care staff, care home residents): 92%
- Cohort 5 (65-69 years): 88%
- Cohort 6 (clinically vulnerable aged 16-64): 74%
- Cohort 7 (60-64 years): 82%
- Cohort 8 (55-59 years): 73%
- Cohort 9 (50-54 years): 45%
Large Vaccination Centres
Our five large vaccination centres still have appointments available until the end of March. We would encourage people aged 50 and over to make use of these appointments to get their first dose. Booking is through the national website or by calling 119.
In line with vaccine supply, there may be limited appointments for first doses in April. These will be delivered at the Pentagon Vaccination Centre in Chatham, if supplies allow. A small number of first dose appointments booked for early April at the other vaccination centres will be re-booked. Appointments will increase as soon as supplies allow.
Second doses in April are not affected. These will go ahead for health and social care staff and any members of the public who are due their second doses of either Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine.
The large vaccination centres have already vaccinated more than 150,000 people with a first dose and will continue to be an essential part of the local vaccination services.
Please bear in mind, this is a developing picture and plans may change. We will keep you up-to-date as we know more.
GP-led vaccination services pass half a million first doses
Our 39 Primary Care Network (PCN) vaccination services run by GP teams have now protected over 500,000 local people with a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr Alison Milroy, from The Ridge PCN, which looks after patients from five GP practices in Maidstone, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this wonderful milestone has been reached. It has been a Herculean effort on the part of everyone involved in the Covid-19 vaccination programme, and we are so proud of all our staff for the dedication they have shown. We are particularly proud of the time and effort that has been contributed by all of our volunteers.”
Dr Sati Lall, from Medway South PCN, said practice staff were proud to be part of the programme. She said: “Medway South, Rochester and Strood PCNs have been working together since January to deliver vaccines to our patients across two centres. We have vaccinated over 27,000 patients and can vaccinate up to 1,600 people in a day across both sites.
Thanet GP vaccine teams relocate to Saga centre
Two GP-led vaccination teams in Minster and Ramsgate have relocated their vaccination services to join forces with the large vaccination centre in the Saga Centre, Ramsgate.
Services operating from Minster Surgery and St Peter’s church hall will be able to vaccinate more patients from the new location at the Saga building at Eurokent Business Park. Both are currently based in smaller buildings with limited parking.
They moved this week and share the spacious premises with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the large-scale centre at the building.
Patients will be invited for their vaccine by their GP services, they cannot be booked through the national booking system. A smaller amount of vaccine will be held by individual practices within these PCNs for patients unable to travel to the Saga site.