The vaccination programme for Sid Valley, which is delivered by medical staff from the Sid Valley Practice, has started well with over 1000 local residents having received the injection since the local programme started on December 17.
The Sid Valley Practice, in line with other primary care practices in East Devon, has been allocated a number of days at the Vaccination Centre in Exmouth to deliver the vaccine. To date four days have been designated with more planned for the coming weekend and beyond. In addition the team has started visiting local care homes to administer the jab.
Dr Dell, who leads the Sid Valley Practice team, said: ”We are fortunate to have Dr Kinder, Dr Read and Dr Hall come out of retirement to join our vaccination team. Their invaluable support and experience has meant disruption to local services at the surgery has been minimal and our programme has got off to such a good start”. Dr Dell added that they were truly grateful to all the volunteers who have come forward offering their assistance. “The response has been fantastic”, he added.
The Sid Valley Practice serves almost 15,000 patients of which 15 per cent are over the age of 80 and 35 per cent over the age of 60. Additionally there are over 10 care homes in the area.
Last week the team visited Holmesley Care Home in Fortescue, Sidmouth. The first resident to be vaccinated was 102 year old Mr Bill Wilkinson, a retired senior RAF Officer who lived independently until the age of 101. Manager Joanne Burchell, commented that the visit was well received by residents with 44 injections given.
To date the vaccinations have all been manufactured by Pfizer. The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to become available in the near future.
Patients waiting for vaccination will be contacted by either telephone, letter or email providing all the necessary details for their appointment. Patients should not contact the surgery.
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