Elderly village residents and their carers are being urged to wait until they receive their notification from the NHS, rather than contacting Ruddington GPs or hospitals, or using web links shared by others to try to get an appointment earlier.
The appeal follows a report in some local media yesterday suggesting that anyone over 80 can now simply go online to book an appointment for their Coronavirus jab. In fact, the dedicated new web portal, shared elsewhere, is intended for use only by those who have already received a letter to say that it’s their turn.
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group says: “If you are over 80 and have not yet received your letter it will be arriving very soon. Thank you to those who have waited patiently for their letter before making an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. This has meant we have been able to prioritise the most vulnerable such as the very eldest and those at higher risk.”
It adds: “We know the booking link has been shared in some places but please wait for the letter as we want to make sure the slots are booked first by people who need them most – the very eldest, those that are living in deprived areas – but everyone over 80 is eligible. We ask people to use the booking link sensibly and not flood the website. There are enough vaccines for everyone.”
It has also been using the information poster below:
The good news is that the CCG has announced today that all over 80s should have received their booking letter by Tuesday 19th January.
Dr Nicole Atkinson, GP and Clinical Lead for South Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership confirms: “The public have an important role to play to help us with the programme. In order to prioritise vaccination for those most at risk first, we’re asking people to be patient and wait until they have received a letter from the NHS. Once you do receive a letter, please make your appointment as quickly as possible. Please also remember to follow the guidance in place to help control the spread of the virus and save lives.”
The Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Cllr Simon Robinson, is echoing its current message: “Although the rollout of the vaccine is exciting, and we hope it will prove to be a pivotal moment in the fight against COVID-19, I ask people to be patient and wait until they are contacted to be vaccinated. The NHS will get in touch when it’s your turn, so please don’t just turn up at a vaccination centre, and don’t ring your GP or local hospital.”
It’s feared residents could face frustration and disappointment if they try to jump the queue before then – as well as potentially tying up vital, medical ‘phone lines unnecessarily. Also, appointments need to be carefully scheduled so that each patient can then receive the second Coronavirus vaccination 12 weeks after the first.
Cllr Robinson adds: “I’d encourage everyone who receives a letter, inviting them to have the vaccine, to get it. This will protect them from COVID-19 and hopefully help us all return to a more normal way of life as quickly as possible.”
Currently the nearest, listed vaccination centre to Ruddington is Gamston Community Hall where 83 year old Wendy Wain (top photo) was one one of the first people to be inoculated. It’s the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which is being used there at the moment.
With news that some High Street chemists in England are getting the vaccine delivered today, Emma Anderson of Ruddington’s Evans Pharmacy on Charles Street reveals: “At the present moment the NHS not has contracted us to provide this service. However, going forward, hopefully there will be a role for Evans Pharmacy, as the supply of available vaccines increases.”
It’s hoped enough COVID-19 vaccine will also become available for jabs to be carried out at Ruddington Medical Centre (RMC) and/or Church House Surgery in due course, too.
RMC Practice Manager, Liz Yeatman, says: “If we were asked to get involved in the rollout of the vaccination programme on a more local level then we would be keen to look at the viability of this. We fully appreciate that having a local vaccination centre for many of our patients would be a preferred option.”
You can read the latest news about COVID-19 in Nottinghamshire >>HERE<<.
