National Picture
Yesterday over 492,000 people were vaccinated. That brings the total to 6.35m, well over 1 in 10 adults in the UK. Over 75 per cent of over 80s have now received their first dose.
Local Picture
This positive picture is being repeated locally. I was grateful on Thursday to speak by zoom to Storrington Surgery who are providing vaccinations to Billingshurst residents. By close on Saturday night Billingshurst over 80s are in the same overall positive position in terms of receiving first doses as the same cohort across Horsham town.
While some constituents are being inoculated at other centres depending on their Surgery (a full list is available by doctor’s Surgery on my website) the vast majority are being looked after at vaccination centres in Christ’s Hospital, East Grinstead, Hayward’s Heath, Park Surgery and Storrington. All have been operating extremely efficiently – and as fast as they receive vaccine.
As fast as vaccine is received it is shipped out to be used and from what I have seen none is being wasted. Provided the ramp up in vaccine production and certification continues as planned we remain on target to inoculate the top four priority groups (including over 70s) by mid Feb.
Because vaccines are being received in this basis – and everyone is determined to get them used as fast as possible – supplies to individual local centres are unpredictable. The teams are doing brilliantly at managing the correspondingly very difficult logistics. Similarly patients are being extremely positive in making appointments even at very short notice.
Regional Hubs – Brighton Opens
As previously flagged the Brighton regional vaccination centre opens today (Monday 25th January). A further regional centre is expected in Crawley shortly.
On a rolling basis those in the priority groups will be offered the opportunity to book in (on line or by telephone) to one of the regional centres. These are large centres (in the case of Brighton capable of delivering 3,000 vaccines daily). They will help to continue the pace of delivery as we move into priority groups that are more mobile and as the amount of vaccine available is ramped up.
For those who book in to attend Brighton there will be free parking for 1 hour at the Churchill Square orange car park next door to the centre.
If you prefer to be vaccinated at your local centre rather than travel to a regional centre you can. You will also receive a local centre invite by telephone, text or email (or, where appropriate, via a carer).
Care Homes and Housebound
Huge progress has been made in inoculating residents and staff in care homes for the elderly. (West Sussex has more care homes than any other county.) Other than where for medical reasons the programme has had to be temporarily delayed in individual homes these should all have been vaccinated by the end of January.
As this happens local mobile teams are turning their attention to over 80s who are housebound – these vaccinations should begin from this week.
As ever if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me on jeremy.quin.mp@parliament.uk.
