COVID-19 vaccinations being offered by Hertfordshire and west Essex GPs

Published date

Hundreds of residents aged 80 and over will receive their first COVID-19 immunisation at a vaccination centre near their homes this week.

GP-led local vaccination centres are beginning to open their doors in Hertfordshire and west Essex, with more to follow in the coming weeks.

In line with national guidance and to protect those who are the most as risk first, the vaccine is initially being offered in the community to people aged over 80.  GP practices are working through their patient lists and will contact people when it is their turn to be vaccinated.

Dr Jane Halpin, the Chief Executive of our area’s three GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups said:

“The amount of work that has gone into preparing for the biggest ever vaccination programme in the history of the NHS cannot be overestimated.  The work undertaken by Primary Care – our GP practice staff - has been simply remarkable.  In addition, our district and county council colleagues, the police and the wider family of NHS organisations have been involved in supporting a number of the community vaccination sites, helping to bring the vaccine into local communities in a safe and secure way.

“I would like to thank everyone who is continuing to play their part in helping to protect our communities from the virus.”

Getting the vaccine to all those in the priority groups will take a number of months.  We can all play our part to assist the vaccination programme by:

  • waiting to be contacted by the NHS – you will be invited to an appointment when it is your turn (remember the NHS will never ask you to pay for a COVID-19 vaccination)
  • attending both of your booked appointments
  • continuing to follow all the guidance to control the spread of the virus and save lives - this means hand-washing thoroughly and regularly, wearing a face covering in line with guidance, unless you are exempt and maintaining social distancing

Everyone who is vaccinated will need a booster jab after 21 days. It takes a few weeks after getting the second dose for the person’s antibodies to reach their optimum level.

In the West Essex CCG area, vaccination centres which have been confirmed as opening this week include: Stansted Surgery in Stansted Mountfitchet, St Margaret’s Hospital site in Epping and Lister Medical Centre in Harlow.

Bessie Cowdery, 90, from Harlow, was the first person to receive the vaccine at the GP site in Harlow. Bessie said:

“I was nervous but it was fine, like a flu jab, and I am just really looking forward now to getting back to seeing my family who I have barely seen this year.”

“I was delighted to be one of the first to be invited in, and I would tell people there is nothing to be scared of and to just go for it.”

Michael Yarrow, 80, said:

“It all went so smoothly. Bearing in mind it was the first day I was pleasantly surprised I had gone in and had the vaccine within ten minutes. It was all very well organised.”

Margaret Simkins, 84, and husband Ron, 85, from Church Langley said they too were impressed with how soon they had been called in and at how simple the booking process had been.

“We got a message inviting us and within ten minutes of each other and the appointments had been made soon after. It was great we could come in together.”

Dr Jey Selvarajah, GP partner at the Lister Surgery and clinical director of the Harlow South Primary Care Partnership said it had been an excellent start to the programme. He said:

“It is a great opportunity for our population in Harlow to get their freedom back, to give them the chance to spend Christmas with their family next year."

He said initial take up had been good and thanked colleagues across the CCG for their dedication and hard work in putting the programme together in such a short space of time.

The CCG has worked with a range of partners including local authorities and the voluntary sector in getting the vaccination programme up and running. This includes Voluntary Action Epping Forest, Rainbow Services in Harlow and CVSU in Uttlesford who have supported the sites with the recruitment of volunteers.

Rob Gerlis, Chair of West Essex CCG, said:

“We have waited a long time for this vaccine and after a lot of hard work and effort by staff, voluntary sector colleagues, local authorities and partners, it’s finally here and up and running. It gives us all something to cheer about.

“It’s been encouraging to see so many people taking up the offer of a vaccine. Patients have been incredibly excited to get the vaccine and appreciative of the hard work put in by so many people to make it happen.

“Huge thanks go to everyone for making this happen and run so well from day one!”

The vaccine is safe and effective for the vast majority of people – it has been tested on thousands of people and assessed by experts. You can find out more about the vaccine and how it works by reading the information from Public Health England