Coronavirus vaccines to begin at Ipswich pharmacy

Two pharmacies in Suffolk are expected to begin administering the Covid-19 jab from today

Those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes as well as anyone over the age of five who is immunosuppressed are among the cohort who will be offered a further booster
Author: Arlen JamesPublished 21st Jan 2021

The Suffolk Local Pharmaceutical Committee has announced two community pharmacies in the county will join the vaccination programme as early as today.

Aqua Pharmacy in Duke Street has been confirmed as one of the first additional sites to help protect priority groups in the local community.

It'll administer the Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs between 8am and 8pm seven days a week and will work as an extra option for eligible patients invited to make an appointment.

Director of Aqua Pharmacy, Pharmacist Michelle Claridge, said: "Helping to protect the diverse Ipswich community that my team serve is a privilege and brings us all a step closer in swiftly and successfully ending the blight of COVID-19.

"I have had local support from our ward councillor Elizabeth Harsant, Ipswich MP Tom Hunt and the Police Chemist Inspector. It has been a triumph of collaboration and team working, with other community pharmacies, pharmacists from every sector, community nursing, general practice and paramedics too, who will all work here together to vaccinate those most vulnerable."

Tania Farrow, Chief Office for the Suffolk Local Pharmaceutical Committee, added: "This is a momentous occasion for our Suffolk community pharmacy teams.

"There is definitely scope for a future role for more of our community pharmacies to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations on a larger scale – especially as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine’s storage requirements are more practical to be delivered in a community setting.

"We look forward to the potential impact this may have on stemming this pandemic."

Hayden Chemists in Bridge Road, Lowestoft, is the second community pharmacy in the county to begin from today.

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