A VACCINATION centre in Westbury has asked for people to consider going elsewhere for their vaccine, in a bid to get the more vulnerable vaccinated first.
Staff at the White Horse Health Centre (WHHC) have been urging local people to book through the national booking system and to go further afield for their vaccine, as a way for the vaccination centre to focus on the more vulnerable.
Marie Strachan, operations manager for the Westbury Group Practice said, “Patients have to go through the national booking system, and we are not accepting walk ins, simply due to space constraints. We will see as many people as we can, but as a practice, we have an obligation to contact a certain cohort of patients that are potentially more at risk.
“My main message to people is that if they can drive or go further afield to get their vaccine, then please do, as we are trying to leave space in the local centres for people that can only get to these centres.
“We would ask people not to wait for us to release appointments as we’ve pretty much released all we can up to Christmas. We will obviously have more spaces in January.
“If people are due a jab and they can get an appointment say at Bath Racecourse, or even Bruton, then I would advise they go elsewhere – if they can that is. In January, we are hoping to ramp up the booster rollout.”
Fully booked for December
Dara Hughes, a pharmacist at Shaunak’s Pharmacy told WHN, “Currently we are fully booked for December. There are lots of appointments in January and all the weekdays are now open for booking through the 119 phone or online system.
“It is conceivable that we will have some extra slots available before Christmas, but that is pending decision from NHSE about issuing further vaccine supplies to us. I would simply recommend that patients keep checking the online booking system for availability.”
Volunteers needed
The WHHC has also asked for trained vaccinators to volunteer and help with the vaccine and booster rollout. If you think you can help, please call the health centre on 01373 828 330.
You can access the national booking service on the official NHS website, or at www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number
