Cambridgeshire GP practices joining Covid-19 vaccine roll-out describe ‘tremendous effort’ to offer Pfizer/BioNTech jab
Two more GP practices in Cambridgeshire have joined the Covid-19 vaccination programme but only after what one doctor described as a “tremendous effort” to prepare for it.
Lakeside Healthcare and St Neots Health Centre, in St Neots, are offering the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, which must be kept at about -70 degrees Celsius.
They have redesigned their site and put in place safe processes to meet the logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.
The GP surgeries joined the vaccination programme from today (January 7).
Dr Claire Murphy, a GP at Lakeside Healthcare, said:“We’re delighted we can start to vaccinate our local patients against Covid-19. It’s taken a tremendous effort like none of us have ever experienced and it’s only been possible because of the collective energy of our colleagues. If you are invited to book an appointment, we would urge you to take up this opportunity.
“We understand that people are anxious to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible but please do not call the GP practice to book, as we will contact you. Please be assured that our GP practices will remain open for patients and if you have any medical concerns you should contact us as usual.”
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group said the centres’ teams have been “working hard to contact those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents” who are priority groups.
The NHS is contacting people when it is their turn to receive the vaccine.
Other sites offering the Pfizer/BioNTech jab include:
- Addenbrooke’s Hospital
- Peterborough City Hospital
- Ely South and Ely North Primary Care Networks – with practices in Ely, Soham, Haddenham, Burwell and Littleport
- Wisbech PCN – Clarkson Surgery, North Brink Practice, Parsons Drive Surgery and Trinity Surgery
- South Peterborough – Oundle Medical Practice, New Queen Street & Stanground Surgeries, and Yaxley.
The other Covid-19 vaccine, from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, is much easier to store, as it can be kept in a fridge. But it has yet to be rolled out in Cambridgeshire.
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