Hailsham joins Covid vaccine roll out

Hailsham Town Council said it has been discussing the roll out with the local Clinical Commissioning Group and local county councillors to make sure Hailsham residents are ‘given equal access to the vaccination programme’.

A spokesperson for the council said, “The absence of a named Hailsham service at the start of the programme should not be taken as suggesting that the town’s vulnerable are not prioritised.

“A service for the town will start in the coming days and our patients will be invited with urgency to ensure they receive their vaccination.”

In the latest update from the Sussex NHS Covid vaccination programme, it was revealed that the vaccine will be available from three of Hailsham’s GP practices, starting with residents over the age of 80.

A spokesperson for the Sussex programme said preparations are being made this week, with the aim of the first vaccinations taking place next week (January 25).

Rather than central hubs used by a number of GP practices in some nearby areas, in Hailsham the vaccines will take place in the individual GP practices.

The spokesperson said, “We can reassure people that they will be receiving invites shortly and everyone will be contacted as quickly as possible. Our teams are working at pace to make sure everyone in the initial priority groups are offered an appointment and receive the vaccine as quickly as possible.”

Anyone unable to get themselves to the vaccine is allowed, under national guidance, to receive a lift from someone.

There is more information about community and non-emergency transport on the East Sussex County Council website.

People are asked not to contact their GP practice about the vaccine, the NHS will be in touch first.

Gerard Fox, East Sussex County Councillor for Hailsham, said, “Following the approval of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, which has only been available nationally for two weeks or so, there are more options in terms of how local people can be vaccinated and Sussex NHS Commissioners have agreed a plan with the local GP practices and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust for patients in Hailsham to receive their vaccinations in their own GP practice with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

“The wider national availability of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine more recently now makes a local GP-led solution possible. It is our expectation that Hailsham will be given priority in order that vaccination rates will catch up with other areas in Sussex.

“Support will be given for the GP practices and Sussex Community NHS Trust to ensure that they can vaccinate at pace and ensure that our local residents receive this protection.”

Councillor Paul Holbrook, the mayor of Hailsham, said, “The Town Council office and indeed myself have been overwhelmed in recent days with calls from those concerned about the fact that the vaccination programme is yet to include Hailsham. But please remember that this is the biggest vaccination programme in history and as I say, it will take time to get through to all eligible people and to fully vaccinate those that we want to vaccinate initially, i.e. those in the top priority groups.

“The supply of the vaccine is coming through in batches, which means the NHS is rolling it out, wave by wave. Rest assured that everyone will be contacted and offered the vaccine when it’s their time, so please be patient. Your turn will come.

“The distribution plans for the vaccination programme are constantly evolving, and the Town Council will endeavour to publish further updates as soon as they are received from NHS Sussex.”