Sheffield GP practices have vaccinated around 50,000 people since the vaccine was rolled out a month ago.

Groups of GP practices are working together in their primary care networks (known as PCNs) to vaccinate people aged over 80, health care workers, care home residents and staff. So far practices have vaccinated over 70% of the over 80s and the majority of care homes. 15 covid community vaccination centres are now up and running in Sheffield.

Alun Windle, Chief Nurse, Sheffield CCG said: “Thanks to the fantastic efforts of GP practices across the city and CCG staff, we are on track to protect the people most at risk of being hospitalised or dying from covid by the middle of February.

This is fantastic news and I want to thank GPs, nurses, pharmacists and many other staff who have been working long hours and weekends to ensure some of the most vulnerable people are vaccinated and protected from this awful disease.”

GP practices have also vaccinated thousands of health care workers, who are at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Alun added, “While there is light at the end of the tunnel, people still need to follow social distancing and lockdown rules when they’ve been vaccinated. This is because we don’t yet know whether the vaccine will stop people from catching and passing on the virus. We do expect it to reduce this risk of suffering from COVID-19 disease.”

In line with new national guidance, from this week,  primary care networks will be vaccinating people over 70 and those asked to shield, if they have vaccinated the majority of their over 80s and care homes.

Practices are busy contacting eligible patients to make appointments for their first vaccination as supplies are made available to them but it is likely to take several weeks to cover everyone in these groups.

We know people are really keen to be vaccinated. Please don’t contact a GP or hospital asking when you or a loved one will be vaccinated or just turn up.