MELKSHAM’S heroic Covid-19 vaccination programme, which has been run from Spencers, Melksham, during the past year, will be ending on Friday 3rd December, Melksham & BoA Primary Care Network has announced.
Dr Abby Burgess, Giffords partner and CV programme lead said, “Over the last 12 months we will have delivered more than 77, 000 Covid vaccinations and 16,000 flu vaccines to patients from Spa, Giffords and Bradford on Avon Surgeries. 95% of our patients have had their second Covid vaccine and all patients have received offers.
“We anticipate by 3rd December over 8,000 boosters will have been given and we will have offered a vaccination to all eligible patients. Our nursing and residential home residents have all received their booster and housebound patients are being vaccinated.
“Whilst delivering the vaccination programme, we have continued to provide a full primary care service. Practices have increased capacity and are offering more appointments with clinicians and health professionals, both by phone and face-to-face than pre-pandemic.
“The vaccination programme would not have been possible without the simply wonderful support of our local community. Our thanks go to our team of dedicated clinical and non-clinical volunteers who have consistently worked to vaccinate our patients with professionalism and good humour. We are extremely grateful to Spencer’s Sport and Social Club for hosting the programme and to the local council for their support.
“Giffords, Spa and Bradford on Avon practices are hugely proud of what they have achieved in delivering vaccines to their patients. The time is now right to bring our local vaccine programme to a close, to enable us to put all our efforts into our surgeries as we enter the challenging winter ahead.
“We would encourage everyone to promptly book their Covid boosters as soon as you receive an invite, which can be done after a minimum gap of 182 days since your second vaccine dose.
“When Spencer’s completes its work appointments will be available at local large vaccination centres such as Bath Race Course and some local pharmacies.”