More local vaccination services run by family doctors and their teams will open across mid and south Essex today (Friday 15 January 2021), as the roll out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history continues.

Further vaccination centres are launching today at the following locations:

  • Fern House Surgery, Witham
  • Crouch Vale Medical Centre, South Woodham Ferrers
  • Rivermead Gate Medical Centre, Chelmsford
  • Saxon Hall, Southend (for the North Road Plus PCN and Southend Central PCN)
  • Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend (for the North Road Plus PCN and Southend Central PCN
  • Salvation Army, Shoeburyness (for Southend East PCN)

These latest centres are in addition to those that have already opened in Brentwood, Rochford, Danbury, Leigh-On-Sea, Grays, Rayleigh, Maldon, Westcliff-On-Sea, Wickford, Billericay, Basildon, Canvey Island, Earls Colne, Chelmsford, Benfleet and Grays.

Each of the GP-led sites are run by Primary Care Networks (PCNs) that see GP practices working together in geographic areas to ensure vaccinations are available to all residents.

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and other health care workers, identified as priority groups for the vaccine.

Residents of care homes have also started to receive their first vaccine.

Like hospital staff at Basildon University Hospital, Broomfield Hospital and Southend Hospital (all part of NHS Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust), who launched their campaigns recently, local practice teams are working rapidly to redesign their sites and put in place safe processes to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.

The local NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and local residents are being asked not to contact their practice enquiring about vaccination.

For further information about the vaccine visit the NHS.uk website.

Further information about the local COVID vaccination programme.