People remain extremely concerned about the COVID-19, particularly given the increased transmissibility of the new variant identified in December, and the lack of information and uncertainty surrounding the timing and practicalities of the vaccine roll-out is only adding to the stress and anxiety already caused by the pandemic. Your GP will contact you when it is time for your vaccination. Please do not contact your GP regarding your vaccination as this risks slowing the progress of the rollout.
If you fall within Priority Groups 1 and 2 and have not yet heard from your GP or the NHS, please do not hesitate to come back to me and I will be happy to make enquiries on your behalf through the local NHS leaders. You can contact me here.
Vaccination Centres
Vaccinations began in the constituency on the 29 December after Kingston Hospital received 1,000 doses of the Pfizer jab. These were given to patients aged 80 and over, local care home staff and NHS staff who were particularly at risk.
The focus of the vaccine roll-out has now shifting from the hospital hubs to community vaccine sites, as set out below:
These vaccine sites are being supplemented with vaccination centres which will be able to vaccinate larger numbers of people. The first site at Hawks Road in Kingston has already opened and two further sites at Selhurst Park in Croydon and The Stoop (Harlequins’ stadium) are due to open early next month.
You can find further information regarding the local vaccination programme here.
Vaccinations in London
There are recent media reports that vaccine roll-out in London has fallen behind the rest of the United Kingdom.
Local NHS leaders and GP practices are monitoring the roll out locally. A briefing from NHS leaders last week confirmed that Kingston and Richmond currently have the highest vaccination rate of all London boroughs with 74% of the over 80s having already been vaccinated.
Looking ahead
Constituents in Groups 3 and 4 are already being contacted with vaccination appointments by GP practices.
The local Clinical Commissioning Group and Council will send updates periodically throughout the rollout of the vaccine.
The following links provide further information and answers to frequently asked questions about the rollout.