'Strong start' to covid vaccine programme in Sunderland, say health chiefs

A drive to vaccinate Sunderland’s vulnerable residents and health staff against Covid-19 has got off to a “strong start,” according to city health bosses.
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The programme has been delivered by a partnership made up of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Sunderland City Council, Primary Care Networks and Sunderland GP Alliance.

A total of six GP practice-led sites are now up and running to vaccinate patients and staff against the virus.

Vaccines being administered by the team at the Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre in SunderlandVaccines being administered by the team at the Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre in Sunderland
Vaccines being administered by the team at the Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre in Sunderland
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This includes Grindon Lane, Bunny Hill, Washington and Houghton’s Primary Care Centres, Riverview Health Centre and Millfield Medical Centre.

“We’re currently moving at pace and delivering the vaccines as quickly as possible, “said Dr Fadi Khalil.

“[The centres] are fully staffed and are fully available to vaccinate the capacity that we have promised, subject to vaccine deliveries.”

Dr Khalil was speaking at Sunderland’s CCG’s latest governing body meeting on January 26, during an update on the ‘Covid recovery vaccination programme.’

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The programme aims to vaccinate the first four eligible priority groups by mid-February which include:

:: Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers

:: All those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers

:: All those aged 75 and over

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:: All those aged 70 and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals

Dr Khalil said 87% of over 80s and 97% of care home residents on Wearside have already been vaccinated, as well as the “vast majority” of 75-year-olds.

Since referrals started last week, community nurses have vaccinated almost 2,000 housebound residents, with another 1,000 to go over the next few days.

Health chiefs also heard that the local hospital trust had vaccinated around 4,000 staff.

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Sunderland was among a number of areas of the country singled out for praise by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a recent news conference for its vaccination efforts to protect the vulnerable.

According to Dr Khalil, the surprise announcement was a “welcome tribute” to staff.

“It meant a lot to the staff to be honest because it was a welcome surprise from the Prime Minister, we weren’t aware that that announcement and congratulations was going to be made in tribute to Sunderland but it was a welcome tribute,” he said.

“And I think the staff are all extremely grateful.”

Dr Ian Pattison, local GP and Clinical Chair of NHS Sunderland CCG, praised the work of vaccination teams and encouraged people to get a vaccine if offered.

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“We’re all aware from the national media that the rate limiting step, as the Secretary of State said yesterday, is vaccine delivery,” he said.

“What we have been hearing is that we have got plenty of capacity to up capacity when the delivery matches.

“So we had a strong start and I would encourage anybody who is invited to have a vaccine to take up the opportunity to have a vaccine as soon as possible.

“We’re working our way through those four eligible cohorts.”

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This week, Sunderland’s Nightingale Hospital went live as a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre which will help vaccinate eligible patients and health and social care staff.

Letters have been sent out to those eligible for a vaccine and a shuttle bus is available from Concord for those who are unable to drive.

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