All older people living in care homes in Dover and Deal have now been offered a vaccination, as the Government accelerates its Vaccines Delivery Plan – the biggest vaccination programme in British history – to vaccinate the top 4 priority groups by mid-February.
I have been working hard with local health chiefs and the vaccines minister to make sure this life-saving vaccine protection is given to our older and medically vulnerable residents urgently.
I pay tribute to the hard work of our local GP surgeries, nurses and care home staff, who have a pivotal role in identifying, checking medical records, contacting and booking in patients.
We are an area with high numbers of people within the top priority groups, and there is more to do to make sure that vaccinations are delivered safely and on time. So I have been pressing very hard with national and local health chiefs to ensure that the Dover District Vaccination Centre receives additional vaccines, that provision is accelerated and extended to additional sites in Deal and Walmer, including the first pharmacy site in our area, as well as supporting the establishment of an East Kent mass vaccination site, which is now operational at Folkestone.
We are making good progress with vaccinating the oldest groups in our area and I will continue to press hard to make sure our older and vulnerable residents receive this life-saving vaccine urgently.