Rycote Practice
The Rycote Practice continues to roll out the vaccine programme as fast as the delivery schedule allows. We have now offered the first dose to all patients over the age of 50 and those with underlying health conditions. If you (or anyone you know) fall into these categories and have not yet received your first vaccine dose please contact the practice so that we can arrange it. If you do not wish to have the vaccine, please let us know so that we can mark you as declined on your record and stop chasing you.
Next week (commencing 26 April) we will be giving patients who received their first dose up to mid-February a second dose. If you are offered a second vaccination appointment we would strongly encourage you to take it as we cannot guarantee when the next vaccine delivery will be to complete your immunisation course. Please remember to wear a mask and ensure that your arm is easily accessible when attending for your vaccination appointment.
From next week we will also begin to offer patients aged 45-49 the vaccine. Patients in this age group will also be able to book at other vaccination centres via https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Unity Health
We have now carried out almost 19,000 vaccinations at the covid vaccination centre in Princes Risborough.
We have completed first doses for all our patients in cohorts 1-9; this is all patients aged over 50 or those under 50 who are shielding; have an underlying health condition; are a carer or work in health or social care.
Recently the guidelines have changed to invite all household members of patients who are immunosuppressed to attend for a vaccination; we have written to all our immunosuppressed patients to inform them of this. Household members can either contact their own GP practice using the letter and proof of address or book an appointment at the vaccination site in Princes Risborough. Many of these patients are under 30 so are advised to have the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine rather than the Astra Zeneca vaccine; we are trying to source additional Pfizer vaccine for these patients.
Pregnant patients have also now been advised to consider having the vaccination. This group are also advised to have an alternative to the AZ vaccine and we will be contacting these patients once additional vaccine is available.
Most of the vaccine we are receiving currently is for second doses and we will have clinics throughout April and May for these groups. We are scheduling clinics for the 11th week after vaccination but ask any patients who are approaching 12 weeks since their first vaccination to contact us. This is particularly important for new patients or those patients who did not have their first vaccination at the Princes Risborough Centre since the national system seems to have more difficulty 'capturing' these patients for recall.
Although we are not currently being sent any additional vaccines for first doses, where we have any spare AZ vaccine, we are now calling patients in cohort 10 (45-49 year old initially and then working down to 40 year olds). Unity Health has signed up to continue to deliver the covid vaccinations to all patients aged 18-49 as the programme is rolled out nationally although we are waiting confirmation as to when this will start and new first dose vaccine deliveries will be scheduled for these cohorts.
Latest advice for the AZ vaccine is that we continue to give as second doses for anyone who had an AZ first dose. We also continue to give as a first dose for anyone aged 30 and over. For those aged under 30, patients are advised to have an alternative first dose vaccine; this will be wither the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Thank you to all our patients for continuing to act responsibly by wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene and observing social distancing. Together we hope that we can keep the easing of lockdown on track. Stay Safe. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.
