Dr Binodh C Bhaskaran said Sidley Medical Practice will not receive its next delivery of vaccines until next week, meaning all clinics at the practice will be paused until Friday, February 26.
Dr Bhaskaran said patients in priority group six – the clinically vulnerable and high risk – will be the next to receive their vaccines at the Sidley Medical Practice. People aged between 65 and 69, who were due to be next, will be contacted in the coming days and weeks about receiving their jabs at one of the mass vaccination centres in Eastbourne or Brighton.
Sidley Medical Practice started vaccinating people in priority group six over the weekend and have another 400 booked in for Wednesday (February 17). After tomorrow, clinics will be paused for nine days before they restart next Friday (February 26). There are approximately 4,000 patients in priority group six, according to Dr Bhaskaran.
Dr Bhaskaran said the reason for the pause was because Bexhill was ahead of some other areas of the country who need the time to catch up before the next stage of the roll out can continue.
He added: “We will use this time to get back to doing the stuff that we are meant to do as a practice – routine care, monitoring our patients, providing care to the vulnerable.
“The main area we are going to work is with diabetic patients and those with lung disorders. We have to keep that going.”
Dr Bhaskaran said second doses of the vaccine will start in the third week of March. From next Friday (February 26), the focus is on those in priority group six and then the top four priority groups who received their first doses between December and February will be invited back for their second jabs.
Those aged 65 to 69 are expected to be contacted about booking their vaccine appointments at one of the mass vaccination centres, likely in Brighton or Eastbourne.
Bexhill’s Covid-19 vaccine programme is being carried out at the Sidley Medical Practice and is administering jabs to all patients registered with Collington Surgery, Little Common Surgery, Pebsham Surgery; and Sidley Medical Practice.
1.
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. SUS-210130-120008001
2.
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. SUS-210130-115849001
3.
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. SUS-210130-120035001
4.
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. SUS-210130-120101001