Mid Devon District Council has welcomed the local roll out of the Covid 19 vaccine with support from its staff and use of sites.

On Saturday 16 January the first vaccines to be given at the council-owned Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in Crediton were administered.

Leisure centre staff were on hand to support the delivery of the vaccine with staff working tirelessly alongside NHS colleagues throughout the weekend to help local people access the vaccine.

Lee Chester, Leisure Manager, said: “Our leisure team have done some fantastic work with the NHS staff, ensuring that deliveries have been accounted for and that the site was ready for the staff inductions, which combined NHS processes and our own safety protocols. It’s been a pleasure to work with our partners to support this huge national effort.”

The centre at Lords Meadow will serve patients registered with Bow and North Tawton Medical Practice, Cheriton Bishop and Teign Valley Surgery, Chiddenbrook Surgery, New Valley Practice, Mid Devon Medical Practice and Wallingbrook Health Group.

The new centre has been spearheaded by Dr Jo Harris, clinical director for the Primary Care Network (PCN) and GP partner at New Valley Practice, and Michelle Freeburn, lead manager for the PCN and managing partner at Bow and North Tawton Medical Practices.

Michelle said: “We are delighted to be able to provide a local COVID-19 vaccination service for our patient community. We’re very grateful to the team at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre for all their support. We will be calling patients in turn, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation schedule. The practice teams will be pulling out all stops for many weeks to come, while maintaining normal services in each of our practices. Please do not call us, we will contact patients in turn to offer an appointment.”

Councillor Bob Deed, leader of Mid Devon District Council, added: “We are glad we are able to support the roll out of the vaccine programme at a local level. Our leisure centres have always been for our community, although I’m sure none of us anticipated them being used for this purpose, we are proud to be supporting the NHS teams who are caring for our residents, as well as assisting those who are helping with the logistics needed for this huge undertaking.”

The NHS is also reminding people who have had the vaccine they must continue to follow government guidance on social distancing and wearing a mask, as immunity takes weeks to develop.

When you get your call from the NHS for your vaccine, please take it up.

• The NHS will get in touch when it’s your turn to be vaccinated. You must attend your appointment.
• Don’t make things harder for the NHS by calling your local hospital or GP practice about getting the vaccine – the NHS will contact you when it’s your turn. Blocking phonelines with queries stops other people getting healthcare and diverts staff time, meaning the vaccine rollout will be slower.

For more information on vaccination and the health and care response to COVID-19, click on www.togetherfordevon.uk/priorities/coronavirus-covid-19

Key facts about the Covid 19 vaccine programme:

• Thousands more doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine have been received from the national supply chain and given to priority groups in Devon this week.
• GP practices are prioritising use of the Oxford vaccine for use in older persons’ care homes as it is easier to transport and store.
• The NHS has been asked to ensure everyone in care homes has been vaccinated by 24 January and it is NHS Devon ambition to achieve this.
• A range of measures is being developed, including additional roving teams, to bring vaccination facilities closer to people in places where the location of the local vaccination centre makes it difficult for people to access it - but in the meantime, local people are strongly encouraged to do all they reasonably can to take up the offer of a vaccination appointment if they are offered one.
• The NHS has a clear vaccine delivery plan and will contact local people when it's their turn to get the vaccine.
• Both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines have been through rigorous tests and approval processes to prove they are safe and effective. Therefore, patients will not have a choice about the vaccine they receive when they are called for an appointment.

Photo caption. Photo courtesy of Alan Quick, Crediton Courier

Michelle Freeburn, lead manager for the PCN and managing partner at Bow and North Tawton Medical Practices, centre, with Ben Dommett from Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, left and right, Dr Jo Harris, clinical director for the Mid Devon Healthcare Primary Care Network (PCN) and GP partner at New Valley Practice.