The vaccine rollout is continuing at speed across Wiltshire, and I’m pleased that all GP-led, community-based vaccination sites in Wiltshire have now opened their doors. As of last Friday (so this number will have gone up in the meantime) 63,293 people had been vaccinated across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, including those over 80, front line healthcare workers and care home staff. There are currently 19 vaccination sites in operation across the area, with each one responsible for providing the vaccine to patients registered at GP practices within the local community. I’m very encouraged by this and would like to thank everyone involved in getting Wiltshire residents vaccinated as quickly and safely as possible.
While this vital work continues, I appreciate many who have not been called for their vaccinations (even if they are older than 80 or in the first vaccine priority groups) might be anxious that they have been forgotten. The message from Gill May (the director of Nursing and Quality for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group) is that these people should not worry. She has given a statement reassuring residents that no person will be missed, and that more and more people are being contacted every day to book their vaccination appointment.
I would echo the call for patience in this scenario. I know everyone is keen that they or their relatives receive the vaccine as soon as possible, but please wait to be called.
The coming weeks will see an escalation of the programme to ensure that every care home resident across the region is vaccinated as quickly as possible, followed by frontline care workers and those over 70.
People invited to have the vaccine are reminded that the current lockdown restrictions does permit friends, family and volunteers to provide lifts to and from the vaccination sites. If you need a lift please find more information about the LINK schemes here.
More information about the vaccination programme in the local area can be found online by visiting www.bswccg.nhs.uk.
Further details about the vaccine itself can also be found online at www.nhs.uk.
The following vaccine sites in have been in operation since December:
- Steam Museum, Swindon (Brunel Healthcare Group)
- Corn Exchange, Devizes
- Rowden Surgery, Chippenham
- Combe Down Surgery, near Bath
- The White Horse Health Centre, Westbury
- Ramsbury Surgery, Marlborough
- Spencer Sport and Social Club, Melksham
The following sites have opened since 4 January 2021:
- Wingfield Surgery, Trowbridge
- Michael Herbert Centre, Wilton
- Tidworth Leisure Centre, Tidworth
- Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, Malmesbury
- Batheaston Medical Centre, Batheaston
- Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton
- Northlands Surgery, Calne
- Pavilion, Bath
The following sites have opened since 11 January 2021:
- Larkhill Medical Centre, Larkhill
- Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury
- West View Surgery, Keynsham
- Steam Museum, Swindon (Wyvern Health Partnership)
- Pewsey Surgery, Pewsey
