Dear Resident,
I thought that it might be helpful to have a short summary of where we are locally from a lay persons’ perspective, though of course the NHS people are better placed than I am to provide proper detail of the vaccination scheme they have set up.
In Basingstoke all of the GPs decided last year to come together in a group of 6 PCNs to offer C19 vaccinations for the priority groups (1-4) that have been identified by the Joint Vaccine Committee. The venue the GPs chose as the hub is the Centre Court Hotel in Chineham to ensure the GP surgeries were not disrupted at what continues to be an exceptionally busy time. The Chineham hub is for the most vulnerable groups and some frontline NHS and social care staff only. Appointments are made by phone by NHS staff only to people identified by the GP practices as being in the vulnerable groups. I am pleased to say a very large proportion of over 80s have already been vaccinated and we are making good progress. Huge thanks go to all staff and volunteers who are making this happen every single day. The aim is to have all the initial priority groups vaccinated by mid February.
Separately the Hospital is vaccinating their staff at their sites and some other NHS and social care workers who are eligible under this first tranche.
The priority nationwide has been to ramp up jabs into arms as quickly as possible to save lives and take the pressure off the NHS. So alongside the local GP led Chineham hub the Govt has also put in place a nationwide online appointment scheme where people who are eligible receive a letter in the post from the NHS asking if they would like to book an appointment online for a vaccination. The letter clearly states this is one option, and that the recipient can opt to wait for a call from the GP local hub, or indeed wait for an in-home visit if housebound. At this early point, the two schemes are running in parallel to get as many over 80s and then over 70s vaccinated as soon as possible. So people can choose the GP hub in Chineham, wait to be contacted for an inhome visit or if they are more mobile they can choose to go to another venue possibly in another town through the online booking scheme. Eventually I expect the national NHS booking scheme will take over when non vulnerable groups are vaccinated.
In Basingstoke a mass vaccination centre will shortly open in the Fire Station building next to the Leisure Park. Most people will eventually book their vaccine online and go there or choose another nearby town for their vaccine.
Separately in Basingstoke we also have one of the first Pharmacy based vaccination services at Superdrug. At the moment that is also only for the vulnerable groups and only bookable by people who receive their NHS invitation to a vaccination through the post.
You are right to say it is complicated. But as a Nation we have never before rolled out a mass vaccination programme on this scale. In our town we are extremely fortunate that, because of the incredible hard work of Hampshire GPs, the local NHS and an army of volunteers the vaccination programme is rolling out very rapidly in a number of different locations.
The most important message I would ask you to deliver to patients is wait, and not call their GP to ask about appointments. Over 80 who have not been offered an appointment either through the post or on the phone by the end of this month (January) should contact their own GP to ask why. Everyone else needs to wait to avoid overloading GP surgeries with inquiries.
With best wishes,
Maria