NHS vaccinates nearly 40% of Norfolk and Waveney’s most vulnerable patients against COVID-19
This is the latest update from me for residents of Bradwell North regarding the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination.
Almost 40% of all people over the age of 80 living in Norfolk and Waveney have received their first vaccination against COVID-19.
It comes as the number of people vaccinated in the area approaches 30,000.
In Norfolk and Waveney, out of a population of 65,000 over 80s - the most vulnerable age group – some 25,500 people have had the life-saving jab.
The NHS is driving forward the vaccination of the rest of the over 80s and other most at risk groups still to be vaccinated. Two further GP-led vaccination sites, Bowthorpe Medical Practice, Norwich and The Park Surgery, Great Yarmouth begin vaccinating this week.
They will be joined next week by 10 more sites in community buildings and GP premises, which will be begin delivering the new AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine alongside the Pfizer jab.
This will mean there will be 21 local vaccination sites in Norfolk and Waveney, in addition to the James Paget University Hospital, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
These sites will be:
- Drayton Medical Practice
- Sheringham Medical Practice
- The Market Surgery, Aylsham
- Sole Bay Health Centre, Southwold
- Manor Farm Medical Centre, Swaffham
- Poringland Community Centre, South Norfolk
- Gurney Surgery, Norwich
- Hoveton Village Hall, North Norfolk
- Rossis Leisure, North Walsham
- Snettisham Surgery
Therefore, Great Yarmouth will now have two GP surgery sites from Monday, vaccinating people in the top priority. These surgeries are the Falklands Surgery in Bradwell and the The Park Surgery in the Town Centre. This is in addition to the James Paget Hospital.
The licencing of the “fridge-friendly” AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine which can be stored at normal fridge temperatures will make delivering the vaccine easier. The Pfizer jab which has been licenced since early December must be stored at -70 degree centigrade.
This has hampered efforts to vaccinate residents of care homes – although the residents of a handful of care in Norfolk and Waveney have already been vaccinated as part of a pilot scheme.
The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine will allow a step-change in the NHS' ability to take vaccine into care homes.
Our hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney are under immense pressure with more COVID-19 positive patients in beds that at any point since the outbreak of the diseases last year.
Until the vaccine has reached most of the vulnerable groups our best protection for ourselves, family, community and the NHS, is to wear a face covering, keep our distance and regularly wash our hands.
Patients are being invited to be vaccinated and vaccination is by appointment only. Please do not ask your GP practice or hospital when you will receive the vaccine. Please wait for your invite.
