THE start of the biggest vaccine programme Teesdale has seen got underway at Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, with some of the most vulnerable residents delighted to be first in line.
GP practices from Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Gainford, Cockfield, Evenwood and Butterknowle formed a network so more than 975 of the most vulnerable residents could get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
Starting on Friday and working over three days, staff from all surgeries were involved and retired GPs and nurses were also drafted in.
The mammoth logistical challenge was organised by Dr Dilys Campbell, from the Old Forge Surgery in Middleton-in-Teesdale, and Dr Robert Carter, from Barnard Castle Surgery, along with practice manager Margaret Taylor-Brown.
Dr Carter said: “It is the biggest vaccine programme we have organised. Normally with the flu vaccine we would be doing 2,500 people over a three-month period. Here we have just under 1,000 patients in three days.”
Teesdale’s health workers received 195 vials of the vaccine, which has to be specially prepared in situ, on Friday morning. Dr Carter added: “We had looked at using the surgery in town because it was the largest, but we realised very quickly that wasn’t going to be viable.
“We approached the owners of the Richardson Hospital and the County Durham Foundation Trust as well as the NHS County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group and they have all been very accommodating.
“The Richardson has worked perfectly and it is great to see it being used for this. Without Richardson Hospital it wouldn’t have been possible for us to do this.”
A one-way system through the hospital was set up with patients arriving and leaving from different entrances. On arrival, nursing staff checked temperatures and went through a series of questions.
Appointments for the second part of the vaccination were made before jabs were administered. Four vaccination stations were set up with GPs, nurses and admin staff carefully monitoring and administrating the vaccine.
Dr Carter added: “We are offering the vaccine – following the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation guidelines – to the vulnerable over-eighties with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or those with a heart condition living at home.
“We’ve been delighted with the take-up – with 98 per cent of patients thrilled to be offered the jab.
“We can’t offer it to people in care homes because the vaccine, when made up, is unstable when moved and we don’t at the moment have the facilities to move it.”
A trial process across seven care networks to take the vaccine into care homes started last month. If successful, the Teesdale network will look at getting it into care homes across the dale. Last week’s massive vaccination project was pulled together in just nine days. Dr Carter said: “We have all precautions in place and have a crash room with defibrillator in case it is needed.”
After receiving the jabs, patients remained under observation for a further 15 minutes before being allowed to return home.
Bowes resident Alan Brown was among the first in the dale to receive the vaccine. He said: “It was quite nice not to have to wait long to get it.”
Celia Pyne, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, who has been shielding at home since the pandemic started, said she was delighted to have been offered the jab.
She added: “I haven’t been out of the house since April really. I’m absolutely thrilled to be here and have it. I’m looking forward to the next one then maybe I might be able to get out and about using my bus pass.”
Barnard Castle resident Laurence Patterson said the scene reminded him of his time in the Army.
“It’s a case of protection for me and for other people and it is a relief. It reminds me of back in the Army when they would hold your arms and you’d get a jab in both.”
Further vaccination sessions are being planned. People will be contacted by staff and are asked not to ring the GP surgery or hospital.
