GPs 'fantastically excited' to be vaccinating people in Norfolk
One of the first people to get the jab in King's Lynn will be 93-year-old Enid
Patients across Norfolk have officially begun receiving the COVID vaccine at GPs practices across the area.
The first jabs have been given at seven practices over the county from 8am this morning – with more coming in the next few days and weeks.
Kathy Foley, practice manager at St James Medical Practice in King’s Lynn, said:
“Everyone is fantastically excited to be able to begin vaccinating. It’s taken an effort like none of us have ever experienced and it’s only been possible because of the collective energy of colleagues within our primary care network – that means all the clinical and administrative staff across King’s Lynn, as well as our volunteers, supported by the Norfolk and Waveney CCG.
“We are all set up and ready to vaccinate people efficiently and safely. It’s incredibly exciting knowing that we will be one of the first GP practices in the country to provide the COVID vaccine.
“It’s also incredibly special and poignant that we will be vaccinating 93-year-old Enid Bright as one of the early patients through our doors today. She was our receptionist here at St James for more than 25 years and is very much known and loved by the practice staff and our patients. It’s wonderful that she can be one of the first people to benefit from protection against COVID and share this historic moment with us.”
Those who are most at risk from COVID-19 are being prioritised first; members of the public who are over 80 years-old, care home workers and a small number for at risk frontline NHS staff.
But anyone in the priority group is reminded to wait to be contacted by their doctor, rather than arriving without an appointment asking for a vaccine.
Chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Anoop Dhesi, said:
“People are understandably eager to get vaccinated and colleagues in local NHS services will contact you when it is time to get your jab – please don’t contact us, just wait for your invitation.
“Our GP surgeries in Norfolk and Waveney are supporting local hospitals in the delivery of the vaccine. This is really great news and a cause of optimism but there is still a long way to go. We can’t afford to be complacent; this is a going to be a huge task and we would like to urge local people to bear with us and to be patient.
“The best thing we can all do to protect ourselves, our families and our communities is to keep following the guidance; wash hands, cover face and make space.”
The seven practices will act as ‘primary care hubs’, vaccinating patients this week, and include:
- Fakenham Medical Practice, Fakenham
- St James Medical Practice, King’s Lynn
- Lionwood Medical Practice, Norwich
- Falkland Surgery, Bradwell
- Swanton Morley Surgery, Swanton Morley
- Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Thetford
- Kirkley Mill Surgery, Lowestoft