More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A GP surgery has become one of the first in Kent to start administering the Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable patients.
Swanscombe Health Centre, in Southfleet Road, is one of nine sites across Kent to have attained doses of the Pfizer / Biontech vaccine.
After previously registering its interest to receive the vaccine, the health centre is rolling out the first stage this afternoon.
Eligible patients with Downs Way Medical Practice, Pilgrims Way Surgery and Swanscombe Health Centre have been invited to attend appointments.
The focus is on those who are 80 or over and can get to the site.
GP and partner at the centre Dr Parag Pandya said: "It is great news for our patients, because as soon as we protect our elderly, we can safeguard their interests and the more people that are vaccinated, the more we can fight the virus.
"I think the biggest challenge is having to deal with usual winter pressures as well as Covid pressures, and we now have to provide vaccinations on top of that."
Each vaccination site has been allocated 975 doses which will be given to patients over three to five days. Two doses will be needed, taken a month apart.
Dr Pandya continued: "It is a huge operation to do and it is unparalleled to run our usual day-to-day routine and emergency services at the same time.
"It has been a huge logistical challenge to make sure everything is in place to be able to welcome the most vulnerable patients.
"During the pandemic, we haven't been shut at all, we've just adapted the way we work, using telephone triage for example, but we have been pretty much doing more than, if not equal, work.
"We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's not guaranteed it's over, but we have to live with the hope.
"This is positive news and we will embrace it and work towards eradicating the Covid-19 virus and coming out of this pandemic."
The latest numbers show Kent has an infection rate of 429.8 in the seven days to December 9 with the total number of cases at 6,357, which is an increase of 31.8%.
The roll out of vaccinations will continue in the New Year.
Just last week, Gravesend GP Dr Manpinder Singh Sahota, of Pelham Medical Practice, Gravesend, said there was nothing to fear and urged people to have the vaccine when they were invited for one.
