Vaccine clinics at Headcorn Surgery for under-75s cancelled after it was found 'many' over 80s yet to receive a jab
12:57, 25 January 2021
updated: 09:38, 27 January 2021
Vaccine clinics at Headcorn Surgery on Thursday and Friday this week have been cancelled.
In an announcement on the practice website, Dr Karen Potterton said many people over 80 among those they are vaccinating were yet to receive a jab and all but three of the patients who were booked in for Thursday and Friday were under 75.
The cancelled appointments will be rescheduled, she added.
People aged 75 and over and any front line health and social care staff will be offered appointments in a smaller clinic at the end of this week.
The statement reads: "I regret to announce that the large Headcorn Surgery COVID vaccination clinics planned for this Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 28, must be cancelled and rescheduled.
"Up to date information on the progress of vaccination delivery across the communities that we have undertaken to vaccinate (and been given vaccine supplies for) show many people over 80 are yet to receive a vaccination.
"I have agreed to cancel and reschedule the clinics for next week as all but three patients booked in to them are under 75 years old.
"I know that many of you booked in for these clinics will be very disappointed and I am very sorry to have to do this.
"I hope you will understand though, that it is a moral and ethical duty to do so.
"We must ensure that all of the communities that we have been entrusted to vaccinate receive a fair share of vaccine, and that vaccinations are given to the highest risk groups first.
"Please do not telephone the surgery about this. As you will appreciate, our telephone lines will be exceptionally busy over this next week as we contact people to confirm cancellation of their appointments.
"Most people will then have appointments rescheduled for coming weeks (dependent upon vaccine supply).
"People aged 75 and over, and any front line health and social care staff will be offered appointments in a smaller clinic at the end of this week."
Headcorn Surgery is not only administering vaccines to its own patients but patients registered with other practices in the area as well.
A spokesperson for NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The Ridge Primary Care Network has vaccinated over 10,000 people since they began in mid-December.
"In January, they also took on providing the service in the Weald.
"This week they are prioritising clinics to make sure everyone over 80 in the Weald has been invited. "This has led to rescheduling of two clinics which had patients booked in from younger age groups in areas where vaccinations began earlier.”
On Wednesday, January 20, Dr Faye Hinsley, clinical director of the Ridge PCN said they planned to have completed first doses for about 3,500 from the Weald area by the end of yesterday, which includes most of the over 80s, care home residents and staff and health care professionals.
Last week, vaccine appointments were cancelled at Headcorn Aerodrome over logistical problems.
However, Dr Hinsley confirmed all appointments were rescheduled last week.
Figures published last week show the government remains a long way off its target of vaccinating its four top priority groups by mid-February.
As of January 17, just over 107,000 people had been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Kent and Medway - roughly a quarter of the total number that must receive the jab for the goal to be met by February 15.
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