Thousands already vaccinated against Covid by Lincolnshire GPs

Thousands of elderly and vulnerable people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 by GP services in Lincolnshire since the rollout of the jab.
84-year-old retired NHS worker Janet Judson from Lincoln was the first person in Lincolnshire to get the new COVID-19 vaccine.84-year-old retired NHS worker Janet Judson from Lincoln was the first person in Lincolnshire to get the new COVID-19 vaccine.
84-year-old retired NHS worker Janet Judson from Lincoln was the first person in Lincolnshire to get the new COVID-19 vaccine.

Caythorpe and Ancaster Medical Practice, near Sleaford said on social media: “Our practice in collaboration with the 16 other local practices surrounding Grantham and Sleaford have together administered approximately 2,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to patients shared equally by capitation amongst the patients of these practices.”

Of those 2,000, 150 were patients at Caythorpe and Ancaster Medical Practice.

They added: “As a practice we are overjoyed to be involved in vaccinating patients across all local practices against this horrible virus.

Ancaster GP surgery. EMN-201222-125506001Ancaster GP surgery. EMN-201222-125506001
Ancaster GP surgery. EMN-201222-125506001

“We have had amazing support from local volunteers who have given their time to assist patients with this process and have committed practice resources to ensure we are sharing this workload locally on a fair basis.”

They added: “We thank you for your support and patience in this process. This program of vaccination has been described as a marathon not a sprint and we all want to ensure our loved ones are protected as soon as possible to allow us to return to a more open way of life. Please at this point however don’t contact the Practice asking when it is expected that vaccination will be offered to you or a loved one as we are unable to give a date, please trust us that it will be offered as soon as possible in a fair and transparent manner.”

One resident commented: “My parents (both in their 80s) have been vaccinated with the first dose already and I am deeply grateful for how efficient and supportive your practice has been in organising this. Your information is excellent and your staff go above and beyond, in what are the most difficult and trying of circumstances. Thank you so very much.”

Lincolnshire is one of more than 100 parts of the country that are taking delivery of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, but NHS England refuse to specify how many vaccines were administered in our region so far.

A Louth Hospital volunteer said more than 900 vaccines have been given out across Sunday and Monday.

Andrew Berry said over 500 elderly and vulnerable people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Sunday and 400-plus more received the jab on Monday.

He added this vaccination service has been made possible by a Primary Care Network of 12 GP practices.

He said: “Everyone I spoke to yesterday was very positive, grateful and impressed at how well-organised it was.

“This is down to the staff, all of which had volunteered to work 10-plus hours on the Sunday, as well as the volunteers from Louth and Coningsby Lions to name but a few.”

Mr Berry added: “This was a very positive experience and made all involved feel like they were making a real difference in this difficult time.”

Martin Fahy, Director of Nursing and Quality at NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “There are also logistical challenges but general practice has an excellent track record of delivering mass vaccination programmes, and we want to use this experience to help protect people from COVID-19 and start getting life back to normal again.”

Dr Dave Baker, GP and South West Lincolnshire Locality Lead, NHS Lincolnshire CCG, added: “This is a huge national effort to protect our patients against the virus and I would urge the public to come forward when they are called up for the vaccine.”

Patients will be contacted and invited for vaccination so do not need to enquire at their practice.

Related topics: