Planning for mass Covid-19 vaccination sites in Devon begins

Two mass vaccination sites have been identified to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine in Devon.

It was confirmed that detailed planning was underway for a mass Covid-19 vaccination across the county at the Devon County Council meeting on Thursday.

Cllr Roger Croad, cabinet member for community, public health, transportation and environmental services said that in addition to the two sites, there will be more localised sites as well, and all of which will be supplemented by the delivery of vaccines in vulnerable settings by local primary care teams.

Cllr Croad was asked to do a report on pressing issues around vaccinations. In it, he said: "Detailed planning is underway in Devon for Covid-19 mass vaccination so a local vaccination programme can commence as soon as the vaccines are authorised for us.

"Two mass vaccination site have been identified by the Devon CCG in additional to more local primary care network sites all of which will be supplemented by the delivery of vaccines in vulnerable settings by local primary care teams. Devon County Council is in active in discussions to ensure that our health and social care staff can be vaccinated.

"There is a comprehensive workforce plan to ensure sufficient staff can safely support the programme, and not negatively impact other services. We expect existing vaccinators, newly recruited and trained personnel, and volunteers to all have a role to play."

Steve Brown, Public Health director (designate) for Devon, added: "Mass centres are being planned but that is just one route for vaccines, so there will be other routes of going into care homes, GPs, more localised sites, but the undertaking cannot be underestimated as it's vaccinated the population twice, as its two doses.

"It is a huge task and even when we get the vaccine, the logistics of vaccinating everyone won't happen quickly but will take months to get through the process for everyone. It is a significant undertaking, not to be underestimated."

More than 50 NHS England hospitals are ready to start administering the approved Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from next week, with Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on the list.

The UK has so far ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough to immunise 20 million people.