This is the information we currently have regarding the Coronavirus vaccination programme.
You will be aware from the news the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme is soon to start. This is fantastic news and we are all very much looking forward to helping our patients get vaccinated as soon as we can.
We expect to receive only very small deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine for our patients in early – mid January. This vaccine will be prioritised to patients who are most at risk of the COVID-19 infection and will not be delivered directly to Tamar Valley Health.
In these first phases, the vaccine will be stored, and patients vaccinated at Pensilva Health Centre. Our local Primary Care Network (East Cornwall PCN) were given the enormous task of deciding the one site where eligible patients will be vaccinated and implementation of this plan.
NHS England advised the PCN and all primary care practices that initially the vaccine could only be delivered to a select number of sites in the U.K. and that these would become vaccine hubs. It is likely that in the mid-long term all primary care practices will be given vaccines to enable them to vaccinate patients at their own sites or in community settings. We will update you when further information is available regarding this.
Due to the logistical issues surrounding of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine this was deemed the most sensible avenue to start vaccinating patients. This decision is not something the Tamar Valley Health has any input on, nor are we permitted, under any circumstances to remove vaccines from the Pensilva site.
The most up to date information can be viewed at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
The 1st vaccination date at Pensilva Health Centre will potentially be from the 12th January 2021, this is to be confirmed.Tamar Valley Health’s eligible patients will be contacted by the TVH practice receptionists via phone. Patients will not be able to ring into the surgery to book an appointment and must wait to be contacted. We are not able to move patients up the priority list and we ask that patients do not ring the surgery to request this.
As per government and NHS guidelines the priority list is as follows;
- residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- all those 75 years of age and over
- all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- all those 65 years of age and over
- all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- all those 60 years of age and over
- all those 55 years of age and over
- all those 50 years of age and over
This information has been taken from GOV.UK and can be viewed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020
Vaccination of the care home residents and their carers will be undertaken by the hospitals, so the first group of patients to be recalled will be the age cohort of 80 years + and then likely followed by frontline health and social care workers.
The first delivery of the COVID 19 vaccination is likely to be 975 doses, this will be shared amongst all East Cornwall locality practices. The vaccination dates to use all 975 doses will likely be 12th and 13th January 2021 with a follow up appointment needed to administer the second vaccine dose, 3 to 4 weeks later. These dates are to be confirmed. The second vaccination dose will also be administered at Pensilva Health Centre.
Housebound patients will not be included in this vaccination invitation, further details will follow regarding these patients.
Patients are also temporarily advised that “any person with a history of immediate-onset anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine”. As such these patients will not be invited to receive the COVID 19 vaccine until further information and guidance has been released.
On the day of the vaccination you will be asked to arrive at Pensilva Health Centre and will be greeted by an administrator. Patients should allow up to 30 minutes for this appointment and you be asked to sit and wait for 15minutes after the vaccination. Patients will be given an information leaflet to take away with them.
If you have an appointment for this vaccination and you have COVID symptoms before or the day of your appointment, please do not attend your appointment. Patients may have their temperature taken and will be asked relevant medical history questions during the appointment.
Patients who arrive late for their appointment may not be able to have the vaccination. Parking is available but patients must be able to walk or be assisted for 95 feet from the car park to the health centre.