How will coronavirus vaccinations be given? Questions answered for patients in Stamford, Bourne and Rutland
Soon patients in Stamford, Bourne and Rutland will begin receiving Covid-19 vaccinations as part of the Government’s planned roll-out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.
Dr Tom Eames, GP partner and non-executive director at Lakeside Healthcare Stamford, answers questions about the vaccine.
How will you coordinate the Covid-19 vaccine?
Our ‘go live’ date is yet to be 100 per cent confirmed but Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is managing the vaccine supply, will be providing NHS England (NHSE) with a list of target dates for each practice to go live imminently.
We are being provided with 975 Pfizer vaccines and have a three-and-a-half day window in which to use them.
The first ‘cohort’ to receive the vaccine will be those aged 80-plus. Eligible patients will be contacted once we have confirmed dates for delivery of the vaccine by letter, phone, text or email (depending on the contact information we have for them) and they will be asked to make an appointment.
Two appointments will be required as there are two vaccinations, 21 days apart. This period between injections is specific to the Pfizer vaccine and, as others are approved, could differ.
What are the benefits of having the vaccine?
The vaccination will help stop you getting Covid-19.
It will also help protect those you care about. If enough people are vaccinated, then the virus will no longer be able to spread.
How does it work?
The vaccine will develop immunity by targeting part of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) virus called the spike protein. This protein is present on the outside of the virus.
The vaccine uses the same mechanism within your body as the Covid virus uses to reproduce itself. The big difference is that the vaccine only creates a small inactive part of the virus (the spike protein).
Your body gets a ‘preview’ of the virus and can build an immune response. If it encounters the virus in the future, your body is ready to attack it, markedly reducing the chance of significant infection.
It is not a ‘live’ vaccine and won’t give you Covid-19. The vaccine is stored in national distribution centres at -70C. When it leaves the store, it will be time-stamped and must be used within three-and-a-half days of receipt at the practice. It can be stored in the usual vaccine fridge at Lakeside for those three-and-a-half days. This means it is hugely important that you attend your appointments.
There have been reports of allergic reactions to vaccinations. Reactions can occur with medications but are thankfully rare. The UK Medicines and Health regulatory Authority (MHRA) has advised that the Pfizer vaccination should not be given to people who have previously had a significant allergic reaction, or to pregnant or breastfeeding women. These are questions we will ask you before you have the vaccination.
What can patients expect?
On arrival you will be asked a series of questions, such as if you have experienced any Covid-19 symptoms and details to confirm your appointment.
There will be a simple clinical assessment and you will be asked to record your verbal consent for the vaccine. After the vaccine,you will go into an observation area for 15 minutes before you can leave.
At this stage, all vaccines will be delivered during core hours, but late and weekend appointments could be introduced next year.
As Lakeside will be carrying out more than 300 vaccines a day while operating a ‘business as usual’ practice, we will require additional resource, so will be working with some incredible (clinical and non clinical) paid volunteers to deliver this campaign. For further information, click here.
Peterborough City Hospital and Leicester General Hospital have started administering the vaccine to patients. Have you had it yet?
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