Community comes together to get Princes Risborough vaccinated
GP practices, the Town Council & volunteers have all played their part
Last updated 19th Feb 2021
Over 8,000 coronavirus vaccines have now been given at Princes Risbrough's community centre.
It's in the middle of a refurb, but five GP surgeries came together to turn it into a space where doses could easily be given.
The Community centre team led by Town Mayor & Chairman, Cllr Matthew Walsh, have worked closely with Lesley Munro-Faure the Managing Partner of Unity Health, Dr Michael Mulholland and Dr Martin Thornton, to transform the community space.
They have installed heaters, seating and lighting to create and implement an effective and approved layout to enable the delivery of over 8,000 vaccinations since the end of December.
Cllr. Walsh said:
"I think the first evening of vaccinations, I popped down just to have a look outside and just seeing these elderly couples with their masks on, hand in hand, walking down from town to get their vaccination, it was just so heart-warming."
Unity Health, a Princes Risborough based general practice are responsible for the management and innovative organisation of the 5 GP surgeries in the local area that have benefitted from the use of the Community facility as a vaccine centre.
Lesley Munro-Faure told us:
"The team has been working days off, weekends, you name it, they have been working it.
"One of our GPs has been here 25 years and he said this was the single proudest thing that has ever happened for him."
The vaccine roll-out for the 5 clinics that cover Princes Risborough, Thame, Chinnor, Long Crendon & Brill, has been so successful that Unity Health have been asked to support other local practices in the area and are ahead of schedule in administering vaccines against the national target set by the Government.
Unity Health have invited all the top four vaccine cohorts with over 96% of residents now vaccinated.
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Until recently they have been vaccinating patients in the 65-70year old age group (Cohort 5) and as per the Governments lead will shortly begin vaccinations for those who fall under the Cohort 6 group of clinically vulnerable patients.
To date they have vaccinated 97% of residents aged between 75-79, 93% of residents aged between 70-74 and 95% of residents over the age of 80 plus all health & social care workers within their own care homes, and 500 care residents and staff for other practices as part of the national call for 'mutual aid' during January to vaccinate this extremely vulnerable group.
Cllr Matthew Walsh said:
"We as a Council are proud to have paid a small part in this mammoth task of the vaccine delivery programme.
"Our community centre has always been a space for local residents to benefit from, and to see it being used in this way is very fitting".
Mrs Munro-Faure added:
"We are extremely thankful to the Town Council for their swift and ongoing assistance during this roll-out and also must thank our numerous volunteers who have played an important part in the very successful roll-out of the vaccination to our patients."
More about the coronavirus vaccine
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.