East Kent Hospitals will begin vaccinating patients against coronavirus this week, as one of dozens of hospital hubs starting the NHS immunisation programme.
There are 50 hubs in the first wave, including East Kent Hospitals, and more hospitals will start vaccinating over the coming weeks and months as the programme ramps up.
Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, will be among the first to receive the life-saving jab.
GPs and other primary care staff are also being put on standby to start delivering the jab. A small number of GP-led primary care networks across the country will begin doing so during the following week (week beginning 14 December) with more practices in more parts of the country joining in on a phased basis during December and in the coming months.
Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients in sporting venues and conference centres will subsequently stand up when further supplies of vaccine come on stream.
Susan Acott, Chief Executive of East Kent Hospitals said: “We are proud to be one of the first hospitals to begin vaccinating against Covid-19. Our staff are working extremely hard to get ready for this historic moment and we are privileged to be able to play a part.
"We will be in touch directly with eligible patients and only those contacted directly should attend the hospital for a vaccination.”
You can find out more about the vaccine at http://nhs.uk/CovidVaccine
