GPs start giving coronavirus vaccine in surgeries

GPs in surgeries across England start administering a COVID-19 vaccine to people high on the priority list from today.

More than 100 clinics selected as COVID-19 vaccination centres will give patients the Pfizer /BioNTech vaccine today, as part of the next phase of the vaccine rollout.

GP surgeries chosen by Public Health England (PHE) were selected to become vaccine hubs on the basis they will stay open for longer to ensure all the vaccines they have can be used.

A couple aged in their 80s will be the first in the country to receive the vaccine from a GP surgery in Halesowen, West Midlands at around 2.30pm today. Halesowen is currently under Tier 3 level coronavirus restrictions.

The vaccine vials, which contain five doses each, will be transferred from PHE's freezers to hospitals that have -70C freezers.

But the vaccine can only be moved three times and therefore once in a hospital freezer it has to be delivered from there to the GPs around England that have been selected.

When a designated GP practice receives a pack (made up of 975 vaccines in one box) they'll be put into a fridge in the practice to thaw and GPs will have five days to use them all.

At the vaccination clinic, the vaccine will be diluted with saline before being injected into an individual’s arm. The vaccinated individual must then wait in the surgery for 15 minutes before they can leave.

Letters have been sent out inviting people high on the priority list to come to the clinics – namely those aged 80 and over and care home staff.

GPs to give vaccine in England's care homes

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is also looking at ways GPs or practice nurses can go to care homes in England to administer the vaccine.

People with a history of anaphylaxis to medicines or food will not be invited to have the vaccine. However, if anybody does suffer anaphylaxis, GP surgeries can treat it.

The public are being urged not to call up their local GP surgery to get a vaccine or turn up but instead wait to be receive a letter inviting you from the NHS.

Tens of thousands of people have already received the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine, since the rollout began in hospitals last week.

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