Worried About Your Vaccination? Read the Help From NHS’s CCG

Published on: 8 Jan, 2021
Updated on: 8 Jan, 2021

A statement of advice and reassurance about vaccinations has been issued by the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), part of the NHS.

The group is helping set up local Covid-19 vaccination services, initially targeting the priority cohorts, those over 80, care home residents and staff and our most vulnerable frontline workers.

GP practices are working in Primary Care Network clusters to provide vaccination from local community settings (rather than individual surgeries) to provide more space and easier access for larger numbers.

People are advised not to worry if they or a family member over 80 haven’t heard anything so far, nor should care home residents and colleagues.

GPs and practice staff are working hard to vaccinate as many people as quickly as they can, and many more will be invited over the next few weeks, so this will take time.

Eligible patients are being contacted for vaccination in a variety of ways and you won’t be missed out.

The statement reads: “Please do not call the NHS. We will contact you when it’s your turn.

“So far, we are providing vaccination in venues across Surrey including:

Chertsey Hall;
Victoria Gate, Woking town centre;
The Westway in Caterham;
St Christopher’s church in Haslemere;
The Hythe Centre near Staines;
Woodhatch in Reigate;
Emberbrook surgery in Thames Ditton;
Epsom racecourse;
Medwyns surgery in Dorking; and
The Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.”

More sites will be coming on stream soon after they have received their vaccine supply and we will have full coverage across all of our area and The Guildford Dragon has learned that an announcement about a second vaccination centre in Guildford will be made next week.

Staff and residents in local care homes with more than 50 residents, have begun to receive vaccinations and the service will be expanded to cover all care homes over the next few weeks.

The statement continued: “To date, we have been administering the Pfizer vaccine which has to be stored at very low temperatures and, once thawed, is difficult to move.

“Last week, the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine was approved and that is much easier to store and move. This week, we receive small quantities of the new vaccine and more over coming weeks. Then we can help spread vaccination to smaller care homes, those who are housebound and so on.

“Next week, Epsom racecourse will become a major vaccination site for larger numbers of frontline health and social care workers.

“Our staff are doing an incredible job to deliver the largest vaccination programme in our history, and still being there for those who need care. The collaboration with local partners has been phenomenal, allowing us to roll this out at pace.

“New guidance on the timing between doses also means we will be able to get the maximum benefit for the most people in the shortest possible time and help save lives.”

Patients who have had their first dose are being contacted to rebook their second appointment later, as per the guidance. If they haven’t heard anything yet, they are advised that they will be contacted soon.

A spokesperson for the CCG said: “The large rise in local cases caused by the new variant of the virus means we cannot let our guard down and even those vaccinated still need to follow social distancing.

“Please help us by remembering:

- Do not contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
- When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments; and
- Importantly, please continue to follow all guidance to control the virus and save lives.”

Find out more about the vaccination programme and get the answers to frequently asked questions