Some Bucks over-80s invited to mass-vaccination sites
Buckinghamshire CCG say the plan is for all to be catered for here
Some over 80s in Buckinghamshire have received a letter, inviting them to one of the new mass vaccination sites.
The area's Clinical Commissioning Group have reassured people that all residents will be catered for here, through their GP, if they don't want to travel up to 45 minutes for their jab.
Bucks Council's leader says they were unaware of this.
The new sites opened this morning in:
- Excel Centre in London (London)
- Ashton Gate in Bristol (South West)
- Epsom racecourse in Surrey (South East)
- Millennium Point in Birmingham (Midlands)
- Robertson House in Stevenage (East of England)
- Etihad Tennis Club in Manchester (North West)
- The Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne (North East and Yorkshire)
The letter explains how they can book a slot - over the phone or online through the national booking service.
Bucks CCG's said:
"Whilst residents who have received the letter can choose to book through the national booking system if they do not want to use the local system, we want to absolutely reassure them that it is our intention that all patients over the age of 80 will be offered a vaccination appointment locally through their GP Practice by the end of January.
"All local Buckinghamshire local sites will be operating by 25 January with two additional sites going live next week in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and further sites to follow later in the month.
"We are also finalising the plans for the two mass vaccination sites in the county."
Professor Stephen Powis, the NHS’s national medical director, said:
“Increasing supplies means the NHS can open even more vaccination services and protect even more people this week.
“While my NHS colleagues are working hard to ensure we can offer vaccines to all of those who would benefit most over the next month, at the same time as providing care for everyone who needs it, we need the public to help us.
“Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you. When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments. And whether you have had a vaccine or not, please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives – that means staying at home as much as you can, and following the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance when you can’t.”