Doctors tell people to wait for COVID-19 vaccine as Northamptonshire’s first GP practices start vaccinating today

The Pfizer vaccine is being administered today by doctors at local surgeries. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

The first community COVID-19 vaccination services run by family doctors and their teams will open across Northamptonshire from today, as the roll-out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history gains further momentum.

But people are being urged not to contact the NHS to ask about vaccination in the meantime, as the NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn.

Several GP practices around the county have taken delivery of the vaccine and will begin COVID-19 vaccination clinics from Tuesday, December 15.

The roll out to doctors surgeries comes a week after Northampton General Hospital recieved it.

It comes after history was made on Tuesday (December 8) as Northampton General Hospital became one of the first UK hubs to start giving out the Covid-19 jab.

Dr Joanne Watt, local general practitioner and GP Chair of NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), said: “This is another important and significant step in our battle against coronavirus, and I am delighted that we are now able to start delivering the COVID-19 vaccine those who need it most in our local communities.

“Our local practices have been working round the clock to ensure we were in a position to open as many sites as possible and plans are well under way to expand the number of locations offering the vaccine in the community over the coming days and weeks.

“We understand there is a great deal of interest in the COVID-19 vaccine and local people are keen to understand when they will be able to access it but if we could request they refrain from contacting their GP practice as you will receive an invitation letter when the vaccine becomes available to you.”

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over and care home workers and residents – the first priority groups identified to receive the life-saving vaccine.

Practice teams have been working rapidly to redesign their sites and put in place safe processes to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.

For further information about the COVID-19 vaccine visit here.