Royal Surrey to start Covid-19 vaccination programme tomorrow

Staff at The Royal Surrey County Hospital will start vaccinating patients against coronavirus tomorrow (Tuesday) at the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history.

People aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers, will be first to receive the jab at the Royal Surrey, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.

Staff will contact patients to invite them in for the jab. People are being asked not to contact, or visit, the hospital to seek a vaccine before then.

There are 50 hubs across the country in the first wave, and more hospitals will start vaccinating over the coming weeks and months as the programme ramps up.

GPs and other primary care staff are also being put on standby to start delivering the jab. A small number of GP-led primary care networks will begin doing so during the week beginning 14th December, with more practices in more parts of the country joining in on a phased basis from December onwards.

There are plans to set up vaccination centres to treat large numbers of patients in sporting venues and conference halls across the country as further supplies of the vaccine become available.

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Chief Nurse Jo Mountjoy said: "We are proud to be among the first trusts to administer the Covid vaccination.

"This is a moment of real hope for our community - we look forward to working with our local partners on this important programme, and we thank our staff for their ongoing hard work and dedication throughout this pandemic."

Ruth Hutchinson, Director of Public Health for Surrey, said:"This is momentous news for Surrey and means that we'll be able to start protecting the most vulnerable members of our community from Covid-19.

"But it's important for people to remember that Surrey's infection rates tell us that we have continued community spread of the virus. So, for now, we must all continue to follow the guidelines and play our part to keep Surrey safe."