Pictures that say Herefordshire's Covid fightback has begun

Patient Saifon Bodlovic is being vaccinated by Dr Hannah Deer at the Nunwell Surgery in Bromyard.

While David Howlet receives his jab from Bev Evans, practice nurse at Ledbury Health Partnership.

They were among the first to benefit as Covid-19 jabs started being administered by GP surgeries across the county this week.

Hfds Covid vax Dr Hannah Deer and patient Saifon Bodlovic.jpg

Dr Mike Hearne, GP and managing director of Herefordshire’s General Practice Federation, said: “It’s great news that we are now rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine to people across Herefordshire.

“I’m impressed at how smoothly the implementation has gone, and I’m particularly proud of the way that our general practices have come together.

“Along with other partners they have worked tirelessly to coordinate the local implementation of the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has undertaken in many years.”

Dr Verity Wilkins, GP at Ledbury Health Partnership, said: "It’s been a real privilege to be involved in the delivery of the first Covid vaccine in Herefordshire. 

“We’d like to emphasise to people that they will be contacted as soon as the vaccine is available for their patient group and if they already have an appointment booked it is important to attend.” 

David Howlet is vaccinated against Covid-19 by Bev Evans, Practice Nurse at Ledbury Health Partnership. Picture: NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Some GP practices received delivery of the Covid vaccine at the start of the week and have started their clinics, with the rest following over the coming days and weeks when more vaccines arrive.   

This latest phase of the vaccine roll-out is being co-ordinated by GP-led primary care networks, which are groups of general practices working closely together.

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This means that patients may be invited to receive the vaccine at a location that is different to their registered practice but is still be near to where they live.  

The last few weeks has seen practice teams working rapidly to redesign their sites and put in place safe processes to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.  

Simon Trickett, chief executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Delivering the vaccination programme is a huge challenge, but our local general practice has an excellent track record of delivering mass vaccination programmes.”  

Patients are reminded that the NHS will contact people in priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and to not contact their practice or hospital asking for an appointment.