Mel Stride MP has thanked local doctors, nurses and other surgery staff across his constituency as Covid-19 vaccinations have begun to be rolled out. Among the sites utilised during the first phase of the vaccinations are Limes Surgery in Exminster, Okehampton Medical Centre and St Boniface House near Buckfastleigh, which is serving patients from Buckfastleigh Medical Centre and Ashburton Surgery.
Mel has also urged residents to wait to be contacted by the NHS, who will let people in priority groups know when it’s their turn to have the vaccine, and warned people not to contact their doctor or the NHS via any other method such as ringing 111.
Mel said:
“It is really encouraging to see the first residents in Central Devon being vaccinated and I am very grateful to our doctors, nurses and admin staff for their dedication at the start of the largest nationwide vaccination programme our country has ever seen. It is important though that people wait to be contacted about their vaccination and don’t become inpatient and start ringing their local surgery. It won’t speed up their jab and will just overwhelm our surgeries during a very busy time.”
Across the UK most surgeries will begin their vaccination programmes in the New Year but some began last week, with early evidence indicating a very high take up rate and side effects being very rare.
Mel added:
“I am relieved that anti-vaccination conspiracy theories appear to be having little impact. I would strongly urge residents to get vaccinated when it’s their turn - we have listened to our scientists and our doctors throughout the pandemic and we should not stop now.”
Among those being prioritised for the first vaccinations are residents in care homes and their carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged over 80.
