Covid-19 Vaccination Programme – Briefing Update - 15 December 2020 -  from Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership

The COVID-19 vaccination programme in Surrey Heartlands gains further momentum this week as four local Covid vaccination services led by GPs, practice nurses and community pharmacists, open.

From 16 December, the first local vaccination services (based on primary care network (PCN) groupings) will start at the following sites:
 Epsom Racecourse, Epsom
 Chertsey Hall, Chertsey
 The Westway, Caterham
 St Christopher’s Church, Haslemere

Colleagues across the NHS in collaboration with partners from Surrey County County Council, districts, boroughs and the diocese have been working rapidly to secure venues and put in place safe processes to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination in community settings. We recognise all their efforts and offer our thanks for all they have contributed.

Local practices have been inviting and booking eligible patients in for the first dose of their COVID 19 vaccine prior to its arrival; those invited will be patients over the age of 80, in line with the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendation. The public has and continues to be advised that when it is their turn to have the vaccine they will be contacted.

Last week the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust became the first Hospital Hub in Surrey Heartlands to deliver vaccines to people aged 80 and above who were already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who were being discharged home after a hospital stay.

In addition the Hospital worked with care home providers to book care home staff in to attend vaccination clinics. Over these first 6 days just over 1600 vaccines were given.

Additional local vaccination services will be going live later this week and into next.