Thanks to a collective effort, vaccinations are now well under way in Sevenoaks and I am delighted that all care homes in the area have now been visited. We have a central hub at Sevenoaks Medical Centre which is helping over 1,000 people every week and, are progressing through the top two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers)
Many of you have asked why vaccinations have been taking place at a central hub rather than local surgeries. This is mainly due to the delicate nature of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored at incredibly low temperatures. Once delivered, the batch must also be used within 3½ days and cannot be moved around too much otherwise it ceases to work. Additionally, space is required post-vaccination for a 15-minute observation of patients, which sadly in surgeries would be difficult whilst still allowing them to operate in the usual manner. However, now the delivery of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine is taking place (and can be stored like a flu vaccine), I’m pleased to confirm that local surgeries will be used as part of the roll-out. The central hub will still remain the main location for vaccinations, so if you are invited for an appointment it is important you attend.
As you can imagine, GPs are currently very busy, so please wait to be invited and do not contact your surgeries. If the practice have not been able to reach you initially, do not worry. They are all keeping lists and will come back to you. In comparison to other areas, Sevenoaks has a disproportionally high amount of elderly people and, as I mentioned earlier, the team are still working through those aged 80 and over. Local doctors and staff are working long hours to dispense the vaccine and everyone who wants the vaccine, will receive it.
Some of you may also have received a letter sent by the NHS, offering an alternative slot at one of the mass vaccinations sites. Such invitations are not in place of local vaccination offers but may give you the opportunity to get vaccinated sooner. If you cannot get to one of these sites, or do not wish to go – please do not worry. Your normal surgery will still contact you to make an appointment – even if you have had one of the NHS letters.
Our local health providers who have worked immensely hard to get us to the position we are in today, and I am grateful to all of the volunteer marshals who are doing an excellent job at managing the safe movement of patients. Another example of the incredible community response we've seen in Sevenoaks during this pandemic.
Our priority is clear; to make sure as many of our vulnerable residents get the vaccination as soon as possible, and to allow life to start to return to normal as quickly as it can. Locally, Covid-19 cases are thankfully beginning to fall, but infection rates remain very high (at the time of writing, 530.0 per 100,000 to 10th January) and our NHS continues to operate under significant pressure. With the roll-out of the vaccine I hope we can start to turn things around and make 2021 the story of human triumph over nature's adversity.
There's lots of information about the vaccine roll-out on my website: www.lauratrott.org.uk/vaccine-update. And, as ever, if you have any further questions or wish to discuss a specific case please email me at [email protected].
