A doctor leading the vaccination programme in Maidstone has highlighted issues with the rollout, which has led to the “doubling up” of work.

Dr Peter Hanrath, of the Blackthorn Medical Centre is a joint clinical director of the ABC Network primary care network (PCN), responsible for administering vaccines to patients at Aylesford Medical Centre, Blackthorn Medical Centre and The College Practice.

Dr Hanrath spoke to KentOnline after the government announced it had reached its target of offering a jab to everyone in England in the top four priority groups by Monday, including all over 70s.

Dr Hanrath’s PCN met the target and offered jabs to around 8,000 patients, vaccinating approximately 7,000, but there have been issues including patient lists and supplies.

Asked about how he felt to have met the target, Dr Hanrath said: "It feels good but the target is largely political, everyone needs vaccinating.

"Problems we have had include access to the vaccine - we don't get allocated enough vaccine and believe it is not equitably distributed - and not knowing which patients are invited to and attend mass vaccination centres.

"This is doubling up on work and also on uncertainty as we do not know if non-responders have been vaccinated elsewhere or whether they have not got our invitation.

"There are also national IT issues that make it difficult to be absolutely sure we have reached everyone, though we are pretty confident we have.

The GP's comments were echoed by the clinical directors of the Maidstone Central PCN, which is administrating vaccines for patients at four surgeries in the borough.

Joint clinical director Tony Jones, also speaking on behalf of Dr Garry Singh, said the main challenges faced by the PCNs "have been uncertainty about vaccine supplies and then the logistical challenge of contacting hundreds of patients at the same time as day to day work goes on."

Maidstone Central PCN has also met the target, with 7670 vaccines delivered.

When asked if he had a message for residents who had been offered the vaccine but had not accepted it, Dr Hanrath said: "It has been incredibly moving to see how grateful and happy people are who have been vaccinated.

'We do not know if non-responders have been vaccinated elsewhere...'

"For all those people and for everyone who has been living under the dread of catching Covid and becoming seriously ill or dying from it the vaccination campaign means light at the end of the tunnel.

"Millions of people have received either the Pfizer-Biontech or the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine and there is intense surveillance of side effects.

"Thus far people have only experienced self limiting side effects which sometimes involves a few days of flu like symptoms that make people stay in bed.

"Serious side effects are vanishingly rare and pale into comparison with the risks of Covid which includes lasting heart and lung problems, extreme and long lasting tiredness and of course all the problems that come with having been on a ventilator, as well as death."

Dr Jones, who said: "We would strongly encourage as many Maidstone residents as possible to agree to vaccination when offered.

"I was very relieved to be vaccinated personally and would strongly advise everyone to access vaccination because we are not just being vaccinated for ourselves we are being vaccinated for those around us."

Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant praised the who have been working "around the clock"to give jabs.

She said: "‘I am delighted with the early stages of the vaccine programme in Maidstone and The Weald. It is extremely impressive that every person over the age of 70 or anyone who is extremely clinically vulnerable has now been offered a vaccination.

"I want to pay tribute to the volunteers, administrators and vaccinators who have made this possible. In particular, I want to say a huge thank you to our brilliant GPs who I know have been working around the clock to get us to this position.

"The focus now turns towards vaccinating all adults over the age of 50 and anyone in an ‘at risk’ group before the beginning of May, whilst being ready to provide second doses to people when their time comes around. It is crucial that we keep up the pace and momentum and I will be doing all I can to support this effort in our part of Kent."

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