Historic point - Covid vaccines rolled out to first patients at Southmead Hospital
Southmead Hospital in Bristol is one of 50 hospital hubs across the country to start giving out the vaccine this week, with more to be announced in the coming weeks and months.
Since the Pfizer vaccine got the green light from regulators last week, staff from across the area have been working around the clock to manage the large-scale logistical challenge of administering the jab. High-risk NHS staff will also be among the people to have it first.
People aged 80 and over as well as care home workers will be first to receive the jab this week, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.
Staff at Southmead have begun inviting over 80s to receive the jab and, have been working closely with Local Authorities and care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics.
Any appointments not used for these most at-risk groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from covid. All those vaccinated will need a booster jab between 21 and 35 days later.
NHS national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis has warned that the roll out of a vaccine will be a marathon not a sprint.
The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70C before being thawed out and can only be moved four times within that cold chain before being used.
I hope I’ve helped by having this in advance. I live in hope that by the middle of next year we’ll hopefully be living a normal life.
