TEESDALE’s Covid-19 vaccination model has been so successful that it is being copied in other areas, it has been revealed.
Teesdale Action Partnership heard during its board meeting that the dale is also further ahead with vaccinations that anywhere else in the North East.
Nearly all the dale’s over-80s have been vaccinated at The Richardson Hospital clinic, which is run by GP practices across the dale.
Tracy Williams, of the Durham Dales Health Federation, who works with practices in the area, said: “The vaccination programme is going really well and the model that they are using in our area is actually being rolled out to different areas.
“It’s a good model that is being used and it is paving the way for other areas to improve their models as well.
“We are ahead in the care homes as well. We have, I think, managed to vaccinate the majority of homes in the area, so we are ahead of schedule on that as well.”
Partnership chairwoman Linda Bird, who is also involved with Barnard Castle retirement home Abbeyfield added: “Our residents are due to be vaccinated at the end of the week and our staff. That is really good because we are being treated as a care home even though we are not.”
Health chiefs are in talks over the possibility of a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre for County Durham.
There is currently just one major site operating in the North East, at Newcastle’s Centre for Life, which has been administering about 700 jabs a day since it opened.
But it is hoped the service could be brought closer to home for many in the region and cut waiting lists for those relying on GPs and pharmacies for the treatment.
“There are ongoing discussions over agreeing what a mass vaccination site would look like in Durham and where that might be,” said Amanda Healy, director of public health at Durham County Council.
“There’s definitely engagement with colleagues at NHS England on that.
“As those discussions take place it’s also about ensuring our hospital trust and primary care network are able to get access to the vaccine to continue the community-led programme as well.
“But those conversations will hopefully reach a conclusion soon.”
Meanwhile, Teesdale MP Dehenna Davison has welcomed the government’s vaccine plan. In the North East, 618,761 people have received a vaccine, with 688,990 doses administered in total across the area. Ms Davison said: “The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in our country’s history, has got off to a fantastic start thanks to the hard work of all of those involved.”
