Sidmouth patients to receive Covid-19 jab at Exmouth vaccination centre

Patients from the Sid Valley Practice are among those who will be given Covid-19 jabs at a vaccination centre opening in Exmouth today (Tuesday, December 15).

The site has been set up at Exmouth Tennis and Fitness Centre, and patients from 10 GP practices in East Devon will receive the jab at specially adapted clinical facilities on one of the indoor courts.

This is part of the first phase of GP-led vaccination centres in Devon, which will see the opening of eight sites serving 49 of the county's practices.

The other sites will be at the Abbey Surgery, Tavistock; Limes Surgery, Exminster; Okehampton Medical Centre; Riviera International Centre, Torquay; St Boniface House, near Buckfastleigh; Seaton Community Hospital and The Staddy function centre, Plymouth.

The local vaccination sites are using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, building on the work of the many hospital hubs that have already started vaccinating.

But local people are also being reminded they should not contact their practice or hospital to ask about an appointment – the NHS will contact them.

Which are the 10 GP practices whose patients will get the jab in Exmouth?

The GP practices involved in the Exmouth vaccination programme are the Coleridge Medical Centre, Honiton Surgery, Sid Valley Practice, Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice, Claremont Medical Practice, Haldon House Surgery, Imperial Surgery, Raleigh Surgery, Rolle Medical Partnership and the Woodbury Surgery.

The Sid Valley Practice has been allocated an initial 230 vaccinations for patients aged over 80. They will receive their jabs on Thursday, December 17.

Dr Barry Coakley, a GP and Clinical Director of Woodbury, Exmouth and Budleigh (WEB) Primary Care Network, is among those leading the set-up of the Exmouth centre.

He said: "We feel honoured to play our part in this wonderful national Covid vaccination programme.

"As soon as the opportunity arose, the teams from all 10 practices have come together, working with great skill and efficiency, seizing the moment to ensure that these lifesaving vaccinations are delivered to our communities.

"We would like to thank all those who have been waiting patiently to be contacted for their invitation.

"We are working through our patient lists in order, as set out in the national guidance, and will make contact with everyone who is eligible in due course."

The eight locations in Devon's first wave of local vaccination centres will see nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff working alongside doctors to vaccinate people aged over 80 and care home workers, who have been identified as priority groups for a life-saving vaccination.