GP services in Kent and Medway are joining biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS. The first local practices have received their Covid-19 vaccine and the first clinics will be starting today, Tuesday 15 December.
At least nine primary care based Covid-19 vaccination services will open in Kent and Medway this week, with more to follow in the weeks ahead. General practice teams have been working round the clock to get everything ready.
Dr Navin Kumta, Ashford GP and clinical chair of Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“This is fantastic news. General Practice will play an integral part of rolling out the vaccine across Kent and Medway. It is a massive step forward in our fight against Covid-19.
“It is a big task and it will take time. Patients will be invited when it’s their turn, so there is no need to call your surgery. We know people want to find out more but please be patient and keep surgery phone lines free for others who need appointments and prescriptions.”
Dr Jeremy Carter from Herne Bay is leading the team who will be one of the first in Kent and Medway to start vaccinating on Tuesday. He said:
“We are starting with people aged over 80, and within those, looking to invite our most vulnerable patients first. There has been an excellent response from the patients we have been inviting. People are keen to get protected and we’re looking forward to starting.”
With infection rates in Kent and Medway still amongst the highest in the country Dr Kumta reminds us all of the importance of taking action to stop the spread of the virus. He said:
“The vaccine is the long term game changer. But everyone will need two doses given about a month apart. So right now we still need to be taking every step to stop the spread of the virus.
“It’s critical that anyone with symptoms self-isolates; along with everyone in their household. And we all need to keep washing our hands regularly and properly; wearing masks and keeping two metres from others wherever possible.”
Information on the roll out of Covid-19 vaccine in Kent and Medway will be kept up-to-date on our Covid-19 vaccine page
How are individuals being invited?
The GP surgeries in each area will be contacting patients directly, by phone and letter, to invite them to vaccination clinics. For the initial vaccinations starting this week invitations will be focused on patients who are aged 80 or over and can come to the vaccination sites. There is no need to contact GP surgeries directly; people will be invited when it is their turn. Services for housebound patients and care home residents are being developed.
How many Kent and Medway primary care based vaccination services will open?
Four primary care vaccination services will begin Covid-19 vaccinations on Tuesday 15 December, four more from Wednesday and one on Thursday. Up to 17 sites are being planned to open by the end of this week, and further sites will be confirmed in due course. There will also be further sites starting in the New Year.
Kent and Medway primary care Covid-19 vaccination service details
GP surgeries are working together in groups (Primary Care Networks) to provide the Covid-19 vaccine. There will be one vaccine site for each network. Details of the first vaccination sites and the GP surgeries they support are given below.
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Start date |
Vaccination site |
Practices covered |
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Tues 15 Dec |
Queen Victoria memorial Hospital, Herne Bay |
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Tues 15 Dec |
Abbey Court Medical Centre, Tunbridge Wells |
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Tues 15 Dec |
Sheerness Health Centre, Sheerness |
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Tues 15 Dec |
Mocketts Wood, Broadstairs |
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Wed 16 Dec |
Minster Surgery, Ramsgate |
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Wed 16 Dec |
Swanscombe Health Centre, Swanscombe |
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Wed 16 Dec |
Len Valley Branch Surgery, Maidstone |
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Wed 16 Dec |
Long Catlis Road Surgery, Rainham |
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Thur 17 Dec |
Montefiore Centre, Ramsgate |
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How many vaccines will each primary care service receive?
The initial deliveries to each primary care site will be one box of the vaccines as they are packaged by Pfizer. This contains 975 doses which will be given over 3-5 days.
Other existing vaccination services in Kent and Medway
These initial vaccination sites are delivering the first supplies of the vaccine. As more vaccine becomes available more sites will open across Kent and Medway.
Hospitals
- William Harvey Hospital in Ashford ran the first Covid-19 vaccine clinics in Kent, starting from Tuesday 8 December.
- Medway Maritime Hospital is receiving an initial supply of the vaccine this week.
Other hospitals, large vaccination centres and mobile services for the housebound and care homes will follow as part of the vaccination programme rollout.