Covid vaccines to begin at Leicestershire GP practices this week

Health leaders in Leicestershire have announced the beginning of the local Covid vaccination programme from GP-led locations.

From this week, eligible patients registered with 13 GP practices in Leicestershire will be amongst the first to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination from GP-led vaccination centres.

The East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group says vaccinations will initially be given by two groups of GP practices, known as primary care networks, with more expected to open across the county in the coming weeks. One practice will generally provide vaccines on behalf of all practices in the group.

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents, identified as priority groups.

Two primary care networks, Bosworth and Millennium, will be the first groups of practices in Leicestershire to commence vaccinations for their patients, starting from Wednesday.

Caroline Trevithick, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Performance for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups said: “We are delighted to be among the first areas in the country to get the GP-led part of the vaccination programme underway. All our 25 primary care networks locally will be involved in delivering vaccines as the rollout progresses. I would like thank them for all their hard work to make this happen for local patients, alongside delivering flu vaccines and their usual care and services. It is important to recognise that this is the start of a long journey in the fight against coronavirus. We must all continue to remain vigilant and follow local Covid alert level restrictions and social distancing guidance while the vaccine is rolled out to all population groups.”

“Some vaccinations will take place on GP practice premises and others will be at community vaccination centres, for example in council buildings. You will be contacted by your GP practice to book your vaccination when your turn comes and you will be advised where you need to go. Please do not contact your practice enquiring about the vaccine before then. It is also particularly important that you attend for both doses of the vaccine”

Dr Will Priestman, GP and clinical lead for Bosworth Primary Care Network added: “I am delighted to be one of the forerunners in the community vaccine programme and can start to bring hope to the older generation of our patients who have been most affected by the pandemic. Our four practices have pulled out all the stops to prepare for the vaccine and I would like to thank them for everything they have done. It is a very proud moment.”

Dr Gopi Boora, GP and clinical lead for Millennium Primary Care Network, who will be administering the first vaccine himself said: “I am proud that Millennium Primary Care Network are up and running with our vaccination programme and relieved that the most vulnerable patients in our practices will, in a few weeks’ time, be protected against Covid-19. All our practices are in Leicester city and so our patients in particular have been living under the most severe restrictions for a considerable period of time. It has been a very difficult for many of them being separated from family and feeling anxious about catching the disease.”