GP practices in some areas will need to provide Covid vaccinations on Christmas Day, NHS England has confirmed to Pulse.
NHS England emphasised that it will not be an explicit requirement that all practices will have to open on Christmas Day when the DES is published later this month.
But they said the nature of the vaccine means that some GP-led vaccination centres will inevitably need to provide the vaccinations over bank holidays during the festive period.
The letter informing practices about the Covid vaccination programme had said that vaccination sites ‘will need to be able to deliver a vaccination service seven days per week including bank holidays between 8am and 8pm’.
When Pulse pressed NHS England on this, a spokesperson said: ‘Despite the complexities, the NHS is putting plans in place so that it is ready to deliver a vaccine as soon as one becomes available. Potential covid-19 vaccines require specific handling and so if necessary, practices will need to have the ability to deliver 12 hours a day, seven days a week to avoid any waste.’
They told Pulse that some areas may need to vaccinate patients on Christmas Day based on clinical need and vaccine availability – this will be as part of the wider vaccination programme.
The Pfizer vaccine is set to come in batches of 975, and in vials of five doses Pulse understands – and not 1,000, as we originally reported – and each batch will need to be used within five days.
The batches will be stored centrally at temperatures of minus 70 degrees, and will need to be kept by GP vaccination sites at temperatures of 2-8 degrees.
Dr Nikki Kanani clarified the position in a tweet:https://twitter.com/NikkiKF/status/1326944472366686209
We don’t want anyone to work unnecessarily especially when many have not had a break 💓 @PrimaryCareNHS
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READERS' COMMENTS [24]
What on earth are they on about? Just give us the resources, and let us get on with it! Why do they have to keep on micromanaging?
Ho Ho Ho……..
Firkin comes but once a year, and when it does I’m firkin workin’.
and if the patients wont book in?
What is the hourly rate that staff will be able to charge for going to work on a statutory bank holiday that is NOT in their employment contract?
Will Nurses and Doctors get a similar percentage bonus?
or only multinational accountancy firms who decide which day it will be given?
and don;t have a clue about how to run a vaccination campaign – which punters will want to give up their christmas day to drive to the area nominated GP surgery to get theor vacination, and thus not be able to drink until afterwards?
Dont think so.
Which patients do they think are going to take time out of their Christmas Day to go for a vaccine? Imagine having a serious reaction on and landing up in hospital on Christmas Day! Numties!
You don’t need a medical degree, a nursing degree, or any degree to give ‘a shot’. Tell the “spokespersons’ to FO and get the MPs et al out on the job – they are adept at giving the needle.
To the bonkers GPs that are still considering this:
Are you still confident this can be delivered at the cost of flu jabs + 25%?
I suspect you’ll literally be paying to come to work…..
When you find a “nurse replicator”, then we can deliver on the DES! Currently, we have 4 off. Some due to covid, some due to self isolation! We are behind of the flu, let alone covid jab! Give me strength! No amount of money will make me work on Christmas Day!
Walk away from the whole DES. It’s an elephant trap that the BMA will be delighted to throw you into.
I suppose if you are Jewish, Muslim or Hindu, plus any number of other religions, you might not be too worried about Christmas/? As it happens, I’m a Christian, but I hate it. It’s got nothing to do with the Miracle of the Incarnation for 90% of the population. I just go to church. My wife (atheist) and I then go to the beach with the dog and sarnies for lunch. It’s great. No cards, no presents, no tree, no decorations. Try it; it’s amazingly liberating. And no rubbish to clear up and put away a few days later.
phe–ttfo
nhse–ttfo
John Glasspool: I have been looking for a life coach, and you sound like you may be just the man.
Ha ha ha ha!!! We’ve decided NO, so we won’t!! Have fun those of you who are won over by “moral imperative”
Dr. tuneva-king.
i am sure you’ll find an amount that will persuade you to work on Christmas Day—I did.
Yes, like Scrooge!
Im sure the surgeons whose elective work has been cancelled will be only delighted to help out over the Christmas period.
Be a lot of wasted vaccines due to DNAs. Xmas is for Jeebers.
I am also sure all those NHSE,CCG and CQC bod who have been working from home and doing zoom meeting in their pant can get off their bloated covid stone behind and come and join us after all ALL hand to the pump.This aint no flu clinic this is a logistical mess.If the establishment hasn’t already gathered the GP work force is very very pis@@d off at the moment and the majority will not cooperate in less the price is right.At the moment its an insult.
STOP PRESS NEWS! The T&Cs have just been announced and for once they are better than what people had thought. I’ve just had an email from the LMC. NO, you DON’T have to do it on Christmas Day.
You will be paid £12 + per SHOT, so no penalty for non attendees.
Indemnity cover.
NO having to wait for 15 mins.
Yes, I can see the hordes of people out on Xmas day morning, clamouring for a vaccine, inadequately tested, with unknown adverse side effects. They’ll be breaking down the doors!
Put it your diary. Opt out of your PCN-DES Mar-Apr 2021.