Rugby club vaccinations ready to resume as Leighton-Linslade residents are urged not to panic over 'confusing' NHS letter

Around 5,000 jabs have already been administered to the over 80s and care home staff and workers since the vaccination centre at Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club launched on January 14.

However, the rugby club operation - a jointly run service by all three general practices (Bassett Road Surgery, Leighton Road Surgery and Salisbury House Surgery) - had to pause on January 26 with further vaccine deliveries awaited.

The seven-day a week, 8am-8pm operation is ready to resume tomorrow (Friday, February 5), with a full rota as health professionals look to achieve 720 jabs both on Friday and Saturday (February 6) - nearly double the daily average to date.

But as it moves onto the next priority groups of patients aged 70+ and those deemed clinically vulnerable, Leighton Buzzard Primary Care Network is asking the public to show more understanding to health staff following some confusion caused by an NHS England letter.

The document invites residents to attend mass vaccination centres, but, when they go to book, the rugby club isn't show as an option as it is a local GP-led site.

The PCN says all three local practices have taken calls where they have had to placate annoyed and confused residents wanted their jab to be administered at the club.

A Leighton Buzzard PCN spokesman said: "We understand there is some confusion in our community around where people can go for their Covid vaccination.

"This is because a nationally driven letter has been sent to everyone over 70 inviting them to contact the national booking line to arrange for their vaccination. The national booking line includes all of the regional mass vaccination centres, and not the GP-led centres, which are operating in our local community.

"If you want to receive your vaccination close to home at the Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club, then residents don’t need to do anything. They should sit tight and wait for their GP to contact them. We are currently working through the top four groups that have been prioritised by government. This includes everyone over 70 and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

"We understand that this is a worrying time for residents and it is frustrating waiting for your jab, but we are working as hard and as fast as possible to vaccinate as many people as possible by the middle of February. Residents can travel out of area to receive their vaccination should they wish to do so.

"We are asking residents not to contact their surgery to discuss their vaccination and ask the public not to panic. Everyone will receive their vaccination."

Last week, Salisbury House Surgery had posted on its Facebook page that callers had been getting irate with staff over the speed of the vaccine roll-out.

It pointed out: "We are all working extremely long hours and weekends to help the LBPCN roll out the COVID-19 vaccines. We know that you are all frustrated and that you all want your vaccine here and now! We understand you want to protect your families. We do understand how you are all feeling. We want you to be protected too. We must work together on this and have a little patience. Please allow us to complete our cohorts. We must protect our highest cohorts and work our way down in each cohort.

"...There are so many of you that unfortunately have to wait a little bit longer but please let us reassure you here today that we will get to each and every single one of you. We care about our patients, we desperately want to protect you and as soon as we are able to we will. We thank you for your understanding in this matter."

The priority groups:

1.residents in a care home for older adults and their carers

2.all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

3.all those 75 years of age and over

4.all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals

5.all those 65 years of age and over

6.all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality

7.all those 60 years of age and over

8.all those 55 years of age and over

9.all those 50 years of age and over

It is estimated that taken together, these groups represent around 99% of preventable mortality from COVID-19.