It has been another busy week with the vaccine roll-out, with the national number of vaccines given now exceeding 4.7 million. It was pleasing to see that the midlands region was the top-performing nationally again this week, having vaccinated over 830,000 people. Locally, we’re expecting to hit our own milestone this weekend with the 100,000th vaccine being delivered. You will have seen yesterday’s bulletin with the latest verified statistics.
We’ve made a fantastic start, but we can’t underestimate the task ahead in our biggest ever vaccination programme. We’re on track to finish vaccinating our care homes and people over 80 by the end of the month and thanks go to all that have helped to make this happen. This weekend many of our Primary Care Networks are pulling out all of the stops to reach these targets.
The launch of further sites will help increase our capacity locally, and we are proud to announce that we have had the national go-ahead for our first large vaccination site to launch in Tunstall. We are finalising our arrangements and deliveries, but we expect to start delivering vaccines on Monday. Eligible patients will be invited through the national booking process, with letters going out early next week. We don’t want to delay the local roll-out though, so we will be continuing to book in frontline health and care workers from Monday. Most at-risk patients we anticipate will choose to go through their local Primary Care Networks, however, the choice is there once they are invited.
This has been a real partnership effort, with staff from across all partners including NHS, social care, Police and military involvement.
We are awaiting national approval, but we are hopeful that in the coming weeks we will be able to launch our other two vaccination sites.
In addition, the first five pharmacies in the area are starting their roll-out of the vaccinations. It is important to stress that anyone in the highest risk groups who does not want to travel to a large vaccination centre or pharmacy can wait to be called forward by their local GP or hospital services by mid-February. Every week we’re increasing our capacity and offering more options to get vaccinated, and importantly getting one step closer to protecting local people.
Following the publication of the latest COVID-19 vaccination for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, we want to thank the teams of staff and volunteers who’ve been working tirelessly to vaccinate as many as possible, across 26 vaccination centres.
In just a few weeks 80,015 people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have started the vaccination journey, including more than 60% of those 80 years and over.
We’d like to remind people not to contact the NHS to try to book a vaccination. When it is your turn, we will get in touch to arrange a suitable appointment.
Neil Carr Dr Paddy Hannigan
Senior Responsible Officer Clinical Lead
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
First large vaccination site opens in Tunstall: This week our focus has been on final preparations for the large vaccination sites, with the first due to be stood up early next week. The first of our large vaccination sites will be located at Daniel Platt Centre in Tunstall (this information is embargoed until 5pm today), with a further two planned in the South West and the South East. These sites are being managed by Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT), but all partners have been involved in making these sites a reality, including estates and logistics support in the councils and programme support from the CCGs.
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) opens second COVID-19 vaccine hub at Queen’s Hospital Burton: A staff vaccination hub opened earlier this week at Queen’s Hospital Burton (QHB), providing vital vaccines to Team UHDB. The new hub, run by staff from all across the Trust, is part of a nationwide vaccine roll out to protect our communities from COVID-19. The hub based at QHB is the second UHDB vaccine hub to open. The Royal Derby Hospital Vaccine hub opened on Tuesday, 8 December 2020 and has since administered over 10,000 vaccines. The first vaccine to be administered at Queen’s Hospital was at 10 am on Monday, 18 January 2021.
Latest Developments
Pharmacies begin vaccinating: Life-saving coronavirus vaccinations will be delivered from a cricket club, a church hall and a mosque from today as the NHS’s largest immunisation programme continues to accelerate. The Al-Abbas Mosque in Balsall Heath, a community centre in Walsall and cricket club in Burslem, Stoke on Trent are among 12 new West Midlands sites that have started to offer the service for those in the highest priority groups.
People will receive a letter prompting them to make an appointment through the new national booking service will be given a choice between a vaccination centre or a pharmacy service. It will not be possible to use the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Service if you have not received an invitation letter. It will also not be possible to get a vaccine at a vaccination centre or community pharmacy without an appointment. Doing so risks disrupting the work of NHS staff in protecting those at highest risk.
Anyone in the highest risk groups who does not want to travel there, or to a large-scale vaccination centre, can wait to be called forward by their local GP by 15 February. If that is the case, or if they have received the vaccination through another route since the invitation went out, they do not need to do anything.
The first pharmacies in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent that are expected to be stood up and start vaccinating this week are:
- Burslem Cricket Club c/o Raven Pharmacy, ST6 3LQ
- Cornwell’s Chemist, Great Wyrley, WS6 6JX
- Holmcroft Pharmacy, Stafford, ST16 1JG
- Millers Pharmacy, Longton, ST3 4PQ
- Milton Methodist Church (Leigh Memorial), ST2 7AF
- Packmoor Pharmacy, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 4QT
Other News
Vaccination of care homes and people who are housebound: Over the past few weeks, thanks to the arrival of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine we have been able to start rolling the vaccine out to the care homes and housebound, this programme is rapidly accelerating. These cohorts are a priority for us and we are on track to have vaccinated all of our care homes by the end of January subject to vaccine supply availability.
This has been a huge challenge logistically – well done to all of those involved.
Vaccinations for frontline health and care workers: Frontline health and care workers, who provide direct care for patients will be invited for a vaccine over the coming weeks. Similar to the NHS, we are asking all providers to risk assess their staff to identify those who are most at risk first. These need to follow the national definition below, and staff will be asked to produce ID to demonstrate they meet the criteria and are likely to be prioritised for the vaccine:
- Staff working on the vaccination programme
- Staff who have frequent face-to-face contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care, mental health, urgent and emergency care and community settings
- Laboratory, pathology and mortuary staff
- Those working for a sub-contracted provider of facilities services such as portering or cleaning
- Temporary, locum or ‘bank’ staff, including those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients
- Frontline social care workers directly working with vulnerable people who need care and support irrespective of where they work (for example in hospital, people’s own homes, day centres, or supported housing); or who they are employed by (for example local government, NHS, independent sector or third sector).
Copy of the letter that has gone to health and care employers.
Coronavirus intentions survey: A survey has been set up to gauge the thoughts of local people and get an idea of likely uptake and any concerns. Please share the survey with your networks to help us gain a real insight into our population’s views on the vaccine, and ensure the uptake of the vaccine is successful. You can find some wording you may wish to use below:
Your thoughts on the coronavirus vaccine: We would like to know whether you intend to have the coronavirus vaccination when it is your turn, and if not, what concerns you have.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccination is safe and the best way to protect yourself and your family against Coronavirus. We are working incredibly hard to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible, and those most at risk are being vaccinated first. Read more about the vaccine and how you will be contacted online.
We really value your thoughts and would be grateful if you could spend 10 minutes completing this online survey. This survey will remain open until Friday 12 February.
Staying safe: Even if you have received the vaccine there is a chance you might still get or spread coronavirus. This means it is important to stick to the Hands. Face. Space’ guidance – wash your hands regularly, use a face covering when social distancing is not possible and try to keep your distance from those not in your household.
Statistics
The table below shows local verified statistics giving a breakdown of how many vaccinations have been given and to what cohort.
Key Messages & FAQ’s
We know that people have a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccination. This week’s most frequently asked questions are:
- When will front line health and care workers receive their vaccine?
- I am over 80 and have not received my appointment yet, should I be concerned?
- When will care homes be vaccinated?
This FAQ document includes questions on eligibility and prioritisation, the roll-out and the vaccine and will answer the above and some of the common questions you may have.
You can also use this template response letter, which might be helpful for some of the queries you receive.
The Public has an Important Part to Play
The public has an important part to play in supporting the vaccine roll-out:
- please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
- when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments;
- and please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.
- please remember that vaccinations are all by appointment only. Please bear with us, don’t call your GP or other NHS organisations and the NHS will call you.
Whilst cases continue to rise we would urge people not to let their guard down.
Even when people have had their vaccinations everyone should still comply with the national guidelines; hands, face, space and clinicians/medical staff should still be wearing the appropriate PPE.
More Information
For more information visit the Together We’re Better website or email: [email protected] who will endeavour to respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible during this busy time.
Any queries from members of the public should be directed to the PALS team by emailing [email protected] or telephone 0800 030 4563.