“THE vast majority” of care home residents and staff in Gillingham have received the Covid-19 vaccine, with housebound vaccinations beginning this week.

In a statement from January 15, Gillingham Medical Practice said: “We are so proud to say that we have vaccinated the vast majority of our care home residents and staff this week.

“Evidence shows that every 20 care home vaccinations administered saves one life, so this is an important milestone for our community.

“We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the teams at the homes, as well as our wonderful admin and clinical teams, and our colleagues at the Blackmore Vale Partnership and NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.”

According to Doctor Simone Yule, locality lead GP for north Dorset, around 2,700 patients were vaccinated in the first week of the Pfizer and Oxford doses arriving in the north of the county, and there is hope the over 80s priority group will be completed soon.

The practice has now confirmed that vaccination invitations have been extended to those over 75 years of age.

Home visiting teams have also started vaccinating housebound patients.

An additional vaccination site within Gillingham has not yet been approved, since the first clinic was set up in Sturminster Newton in connection with the Blackmore Vale Partnership.

Public Health Dorset revealed on Tuesday that more than 500 patients that have tested positive for Covid-19 are in hospitals across Dorset.

This is around three times the number of in-patients that were diagnosed with the virus in the county’s hospitals during the first wave.

Gillingham Medical Practice has reminded patients to wash their hands, wear a face covering as advised and social distance, to help in preventing further spread of the virus.

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