Christchurch surgery announced as coronavirus vaccine centre

A CHRISTCHURCH GP surgery will begin doling out the Pfizer jab this week as the NHS enters the next phase of its coronavirus vaccination campaign.

Stour Surgery in Barrack Road was announced today (Tuesday) as an immunisation centre, along with six other healthcare settings across Dorset.

Batches of the Covid vaccine began arriving in UK hospitals last week, and as the roll-out enters its next phase GP practices have been working round-the-clock setting up hubs in surgeries, community centres and even hotels.

Locations have now been announced, and Stour Surgery will kick off its clinics tomorrow.

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents.

Those people in “priority groups” who are most vulnerable will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn to receive the jab, and the public is asked not to call surgeries or hospitals.

Dr Karen Kirkham, clinical lead for the Dorset Covid-19 vaccination programme and assistant clinical director of NHS Dorset CCG, warned this would be a “marathon not a sprint”.

“We’d like to ask for the continued help of the public to help us as we continue the roll-out of the vaccination programme for the people of Dorset,” she said.

“The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine; it’s important not to contact us before then.

“And if you can’t make an appointment let us know as soon as possible and we can then offer the slot to someone else. You will be called again.”

Sam Crowe, director of public health for Dorset and BCP councils, said: “It’s great to see this next phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme getting under way in Dorset.

“But in the meantime, it’s really important that we continue to follow the rules to prevent transmission.”

More vaccination centres will be added on a phased basis throughout December and in the coming months.