Are GP surgeries going to start vaccinating now?

[notevenat20]

I heard a GP from Oxford on a recent podcast saying they would receive 975 doses to vaccine with. I thought it was only being done in hospitals. Are GP surgeries going to start vaccinating now?

1. I didn't think they were able to due to need to keep it really cold

2. My local surgery would have to vaccinate over the phone because covid.

GPs were always part of the vaccination programme

As far as I understand it some are, some aren't in the same way not only some hospitals are

I assume ringing your surgery would be the best way to find out if yours is.

The primary care networks who are in wave 1 were informed last night and can start vaccinating on 15 December.

Some Gp’s are going to be a part of future vaccinations plans as are pharmacies, hospitals and specially set up centres. DH is spending hours on calls about it. Patients will be advised when they are due their vaccinations and told where to go and when.

“I assume ringing your surgery would be the best way to find out if yours is.”

You’ll be told where and when, when you need to know. Absolutely don’t ring your surgery about this at the moment, they’re busy enough.

Mine has texted today to say that they are not (yet). I guess they were receiving lots of enquiries.

When the Oxford/AstraZenic vaccine becomes available then yes.

AstraZeneca

@Theotherrudolph

“I assume ringing your surgery would be the best way to find out if yours is.”

You’ll be told where and when, when you need to know. Absolutely don’t ring your surgery about this at the moment, they’re busy enough.

Oh yes, I didn't think of that, I was wrongly trying to help the OP to find out.

In that case wait and see seems to be the answer, I think thats fair enough as no one is any worse off by not knowing

@Pyewhacket

When the Oxford/AstraZenic vaccine becomes available then yes.

They are doing the pfizer vaccine unless things have changed today.

www.gponline.com/gps-280-sites-will-deliver-270000-doses-covid-19-vaccine-next-week/article/1702054

We are vaccinating in hubs, so our patients (and another 4 surgeries) will be vaccinated in another's surgery with a central number to ring to book.

Yeh it will be pfizer, in some cases. Don't forget it can be stored at normal fridge temp for 5 days, so will be fine in GP surgeries. All will have drugs fridges.

I would imagine some will set up hubs to pull resources and get through as many patients as quickly as possible so it might not be at your normal surgery.

The main issue, as I understood it, is simply that you need to get 975 people over 80 to come to the surgery in less than a week. That doesn't sound easy.

I would have thought GPs will be distributing/vaccinating care homes they look after with the current supply.

Ours has put a message on facebook tonight saying they expect a batch in early January with 10 days notice. They will need to administer 975 jabs within 3 days they say so when they get the arrival dates will be all hands on deck booking in as many people as possible. The group manages about 6 surgeries and they are hiring out a local church to do it. They seem to be expecting Pfizer though I suppose that could change (north west). If they don't turn up when they say they will I expect it will be chaos and very difficult to avoid those doses going to waste. Hats off to all those in charge of the logistics and vaccinating.

I am in NI, it isn't GPs going into care homes here. Vaccinators from the trusts are doing it.

We’ve had texts from our GP surgery that they will commence vaccinations in January and that they are waiting for the Oxford vaccine.

It's very confusing why some GP surgeries are expecting the Pfizer vaccine and some are waiting for the Oxford one. Is this being dictated centrally or is it up to the individual surgeries?