Hertfordshire Health Matters

Monday 26th January 2021

Progress in COVID-19 vaccination programme 

Our area's COVID-19 vaccination programme is continuing at pace, with encouraging new figures showing the impact it is already having on communities. 

Groups of GP practices are working together to offer widespread coverage with 13 sites up and running in the east and north Hertfordshire area. The national booking system also offers appointments at large vaccine centres, including Robertson House in Stevenage and now at Leisurezone sports centre in Harlow. 

Figures released last week show more than 115,300 people have been vaccinated in Hertfordshire and west Essex, including:

• more than 50,800 people aged 80 or over receiving their first vaccination
• nearly 47,700 people under the age of 80 receiving their first vaccination (this includes care home and frontline healthcare staff).

New pages dedicated to COVID-19 vaccination information and FAQs have also been added to the Healthier Futures website which covers Hertfordshire and West Essex, so please bookmark and share it: https://www.healthierfuture.org.uk/covid. More information is also available on the NHS.UK website

Please remind your family, friends and contacts that COVID-19 vaccinations are only available by appointment from a person’s own GP practice or an NHS letter giving the choice to book using the national booking system. Opening hours are coordinated to ensure appointments are available when supplies of the vaccine allow. 

The programme has been extended to include people aged 70 and over and those under 70 with a health condition that puts them at extreme clinical risk, but completing vaccinations for the over 80s, older people who live in care homes and those who care for them continue to take priority. 

Dr Prag Moodley, a GP and Chair of East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said the pace of vaccination is expected to "increase significantly over the coming days and weeks", adding: "We are working as fast as we can to roll out the vaccine and everyone will be contacted by their GP or through the national team to book in a vaccination as soon as it is their turn.  Please don’t contact your GP surgery to ask about your appointment.”

To support the vaccination effort, people attending an appointment can support staff by following social distancing guidelines, wearing a face covering unless they are exempt, and arriving for their vaccination at their allotted time, not in advance.

Pamela Norris, who received her vaccine at the Broxbourne GP-led site said: "There was an amazing welcome when I went for my vaccine, we were helped to come in and they knew what to do to put me at ease. I won't be socialising any more than I have been yet as we’ve all got to be careful, but this is the first step to doing more in the future.”

Meanwhile, if you feel you can  volunteer to support the vaccination programme as it continues over the coming weeks and months, please sign up at www.communities1st.org.uk/covidsteward. Everyone should also still continue to follow guidance to stay at home and only travel if it essential. Continue washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, wear a face covering and keep a safe distance apart from people even after having your vaccination.

Change to Urgent Care Centre hours

As of 11 January, the New QEII Hospital Urgent Care Centre for minor illnesses and injuries in Welwyn Garden City has closed its doors to new patients at 10pm every day, and re-opens at 8am every morning.

This is to allow clinical staff to be redeployed to the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, where an increasing number of patients are being treated for COVID-19. This is a temporary measure, which will be reviewed on a weekly basis.  

All patients who arrive before 10pm have their treatment completed before the Urgent Care Centre shuts at midnight.

For patients who need to access overnight services, GP appointments will still be available at the New QEII overnight for those who are assessed as needing them by the NHS 111 service, either online via 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

Between 8am and 10pm patients with minor injuries or illnesses will still be directed to the New QEII’s Urgent Care Centre, and will be asked to attend alone wherever possible to help maintain social distancing. 

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