First Covid Vaccinations issued from GP surgeries in Bedford Borough

The first vaccination centres, run by family doctors and their teams will open in Bedford as the roll out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history gains further momentum.

All of the Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Bedford are taking delivery of the vaccine on 6 January and will start to deliver the vaccine to registered patients over 80.

Fully trained vaccinators will be administering the jab at Kings House Conference Centre in Ampthill Road to ensure there is plenty of room for social distancing when waiting, as well as a recovery area, where people will be monitored for 15 minutes after the vaccination.

The first vaccination will take place today – 6 January – and the NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. Don’t try and jump the queue.

Cllr Louise Jackson, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Health & Wellbeing said:

“I am delighted that we can now begin vaccinating in the Borough. Getting all the eligible people vaccinated will be a marathon, not a sprint. It will take time to deliver the vaccine to so many people, so in the meantime I ask everyone to observe the lockdown rules and remember hands, face, space.”

This next phase of the vaccine roll-out starts next week when the AstraZeneca vaccine will be delivered to all Primary Care Networks across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

Dr Sarah Whiteman, the Medical Director and putative Chair of BLMK CCGs said

“Delivery of the biggest ever NHS vaccination programme has been a mammoth undertaking so I am thrilled that we can now say we are administering vaccines to the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes footprint that we cover. I can appreciate that local people will be keen to get their jab as soon as possible, but we would ask that patients do not contact their practices at this time. GPs are working through their lists and making appointments according to the criteria provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

For further information please contact the BLMK Comms Team on bedsccg.communications@nhs.net