The latest phase of the vaccine roll-out is being co-ordinated by GP-led Primary Care Networks (PCNs).
Wisbech Primary Care Network (PCN), has started to vaccinate local care home residents and staff in their own care homes this week. Residents at Orchard House Care Home were the first to be vaccinated on Monday morning, and by the end of the week the PCN will aim to have vaccinated residents in all nine care homes in Wisbech.
The Wisbech PCN team has been working with other parts of the NHS and the Local Authority to be able to offer the vaccine to care home residents and staff in the area. The vaccinations will be delivered in their own care homes and are an important part of the biggest ever national immunisation programme.
Dr Mandeep Sira, GP at the North Brink Practice and Clinical director of Wisbech PCN said,
“Staff across all four practices in Wisbech PCN are working hard to support the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
“We started vaccinating patients above the age of 80 two weeks ago, and now we have started vaccinations in care homes.
“It is important that we vaccinate our elderly population and those who are most vulnerable as a priority, to give them protection against the virus.
“We will be working hard over the next few weeks to vaccinate as many care home residents and staff as we can.
“We are also continuing to deliver vaccinations to those in the key priority groups, so if you are invited to book an appointment, we would urge you to take up this opportunity.
“Please do not call the GP practice to book; we are contacting eligible groups and inviting them to book appointments.
“Please be assured that GP practices will remain open for patients and if you have any medical concerns you should contact us or NHS 111 as usual.”
Maxine Bain, Home Manager at Orchard House Care Home said,
“We are delighted that vaccinations for our staff and residents have begun. We know how awful COVID-19 is and how important the vaccine is – it means we can protect our residents and staff and reassure their loved ones that they are safe.”
Dr Gary Howsam, Chair at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG said,
“GPs have been working incredibly hard this winter, especially over the Christmas and New Year period, to see and treat patients, and to get ready for delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to care homes. General Practice is very experienced in delivering vaccinations, and I would urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to have it to help protect them from COVID-19.
“Staff across the NHS are working to roll-out the vaccine as quickly as possible to patients who are most at risk of the virus, with hospital hubs already delivering the vaccine to people over the age of 80.
“The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. Patients will be contacted and invited for vaccination – it's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.”
The local NHS is working hard so that it can offer the vaccine to all care home residents and staff as quickly as possible. Care home vaccinations will be on a phased basis across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. More GP practices are expected to be able to offer the vaccine to care homes in their areas in the next few weeks.
