Top priority groups for Covid-19 vaccine in Cornwall will get their jabs by mid-February
There are currently 13 vaccination centres operating in the Duchy, with 'more coming online all the time'
People in Cornwall who are in the top priority groups for the Covid-19 vaccine will get their jabs by Mid February.
NHS Kernow’s chief nursing officer, Natalie Jones, explained that this was the target for Cornwall’s plan for the vaccine.
Details about the vaccine rollout in Cornwall were revealed to Cornwall Council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee when it met on Wednesday 20th January.
Mrs Jones said that NHS Kernow had been making plans for how to administer vaccinations since October but these had had to be adapted to allow for the different requirements of the vaccines.
Councillors heard that both the Pfizer vaccine, which was first to be approved, and the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine were now being given in Cornwall.
And they heard that the Moderna vaccine was expected to start being distributed in the spring.
“This is a fast-moving, ever-changing programme. In Cornwall, we have 334,000 people eligible to have a vaccine in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“We are currently looking at priority groups – the top four groups that were identified. There are 88,000 people in those groups (in Cornwall).
“We are committed to giving people their first vaccinations by mid February.”
Natalie Jones, Chief Nursing Officer, NHS Kernow
The committee heard that there was an aim to have all residents and staff in care homes in Cornwall vaccinated by this Sunday (Jan24).
Mrs Jones said that there were currently 13 vaccination centres operating in Cornwall with “more coming online all the time”.
There are currently centres in Bodmin, St Austell, Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, Redruth, Mount Hawke, Pensilva, Penzance, Helston and Roche.
She admitted that the centres “are not as close to everybody as we would like them to be but that will evolve over time”.
In addition, vaccinations were being given at care homes and at hospitals. While vaccinations at hospitals are for health and care staff it was explained that people in the priority groups who were attending hospital for routine appointments were also being given the vaccines while there.
GP surgeries are also giving jabs to those in the priority groups and Mrs Jones said that this would be extended and that pharmacies were also set to be included.
Mrs Jones said that more work was being done to ensure people in the priority groups who are housebound are also able to get their vaccinations.
Councillors were united in paying tribute to the hard work and commitment of staff to get the vaccination programme up and running in Cornwall.
However, some were concerned about the messages which were being given to people who are in the priority groups.
Loveday Jenkin said that while some GP surgeries were giving vaccines to over 80s while others had not started at all.
John Pollard said that he lived close to three 80-year-olds who are registered at different surgeries. He said that while two have received their first vaccinations the other was told they would have to wait until February.
“They feel ‘why am I left out, is my life not as valuable as others?’.
“We need to support them in that as well as finding out why this is the case.
“The other issue put to me is that Boris has been saying that all four top groups will be vaccinated by mid-February. Over the weekend NHS locally was saying it would be by the end of February. We need to be very careful that people get a clear message.”
John Pollard
Mrs Jones said that there was “a plan in Cornwall to deliver the vaccines (to the priority groups) by the middle of February”.
She said she would also give feedback to the NHS communications team to ensure a consistent message is provided.
“I want to pay tribute to the work being done. It is extraordinary.
“Looking at GP surgeries and the clinical hubs that have been set up by doctors and nurses and administrators – it is an extraordinary effort.”
Andy Virr, Committee member