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More on KentOnline
More than one vaccination was administered every minute at a surgery’s first flu jab clinic.
Nurses from Park Surgery in Herne Bay inoculated 450 people on Saturday at a specially-equipped unit at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital.
The practice opened the clinic at the King Edward Avenue infirmary in a bid to help it inject 3,000 more people than originally planned after the government widened eligibility.
And as bosses aim to match the surge in demand, they are now hoping carry out up to 500 jabs during the weekly clinics.
Executive partner Jeremy Carter said: “Because it was the first clinic we held in that building, we went for a cautious approach, so we allowed for five minutes between each patient.
"But with the system we put in place through the building, we found we can do them slightly more frequently.”
The government widened the pool of people eligible for the free vaccines to include anyone over the age of 50 and Year 7 pupils ahead of a feared second wave of Covid-19.
The measures are part of efforts to reduce the pressure on the NHS this winter - but means Park Surgery is expecting to vaccinate as many as 13,500 patients.
Mr Carter is unsure when those aged between 50 and 64 will be given the jab, as government guidance suggests this may be as late as December.
“We’ve got so many that need the flu jab and we’re hoping people are going to take this up, so the more we can get done in a safe way, the better,” he added.
“It is encouraging to see that there is a very keen uptake.
"Minimising the risk of seasonal influenza is vital, given the added challenge of Covid.”
The over-65s, pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions and health and social care staff will be the first to be offered the inoculation. Anyone sharing a home with a person on the coronavirus shielding list will also be prioritised.
Dr Carter says the practice will run the appointment-only clinics through to November.
