Update on Covid19 Vaccination Rollout in Rye and Rural Rother
Over recent weeks we have heard a lot of information and announcements from the Government on the Covid19 vaccine roll out across the UK, and understandably my office is receiving a lot of enquires about the progress being made locally.
In Hastings we are having a very successful roll out with the vaccine centre at the Hastings Centre on The Ridge and also the Hospital Hub at The Conquest Hospital. However, I know that those living in Rye and the rural parts of Rother are concerned they are being forgotten. My message to you is simple, you have not been forgotten.
Over the past several days, I have been working with the MP for Bexhill and Battle, Huw Merriman, to improve the delivery of the vaccine across Rother. We have now secured a commitment from the Sussex CCG that every Care Home in Rother will have received the offer of a vaccine to every resident within two weeks. Indeed, some care homes in Rother have already received the vaccine in the last few days. Moreover, in the coming days a new vaccine centre should go live at Etchingham Village Hall.
This is all currently based on the use of the Pfizer vaccine that requires specialist storage and takes time to administer to patients, and is why specialist hubs are having to be set up around the country. However, the introduction of the Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine means that in the coming weeks we should be able to move to GP and Pharmacy led deployment of the Covid19 vaccine which will be much closer to local residents. The Government has set a target that everyone will be within 10 miles of a vaccine site across England.
Rolling out the vaccine is a challenge which will be met. It is the biggest logistical effort ever undertaken in the NHS’ history and there are bound to be bumps in the road and issues with the rollout as we find our feet. The Government is still on target to offer a vaccine to every resident in the top four priority groups which is everyone over 70, the clinically most vulnerable and all frontline health and social care workers, by the 15th February.
Please do not contact your GP about an appointment for a vaccine. As soon as slots become available you will be contacted via letter or text from your GP practice or the national NHS . I understand that it is frustrating that the vaccine is taking time to be delivered, but everything that can be done in this huge mobilisation is being done. I will endeavour to keep local residents informed of the progress being made, but in the meantime we all need to follow the rules, which right now means staying at home unless it is essential for you not to.