New mass COVID-jab centre for Stoke Mandeville

A further two COVID vaccination sites are opening in Bucks as the rollout continues.

GP-led mass COVID-hubs are opening in Stoke Mandeville and High Wycombe to give vaccines to patients aged 80 and over.

These join the sites already up and running in the county - in Chalfont St Peter, Princes Risborough, Winslow and Chesham, along with another site in High Wycombe that went live last week.

Details of more GP-led sites will be announced soon, as the rollout continues in Bucks.

As well as people aged 80 and over, care home staff are also being prioritised in this first phase of the national vaccination rollout. This is in line with the national Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) prioritisation programme.

All patients who are eligible to have the vaccine at this stage will be contacted by the NHS first. Patients are being asked not to contact their GP practice to try to arrange an appointment.

Dr Raj Bajwa, Clinical Chair of NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It is great to see these new sites in Aylesbury and High Wycombe joining the growing number of locations in Buckinghamshire to offer vaccinations to our most vulnerable residents. More vaccination sites will be up and running in the county soon.

“We continue to ask patients please not to contact their GP themselves to arrange vaccination appointments, but to instead wait for the NHS to contact them. We realise the growing cases of COVID are causing anxiety, but this vaccination programme is extremely complex. Our GP practice staff continue to work incredibly hard to ensure that our most vulnerable patients are protected as soon as possible. We thank you for your patience and support.

“Other age groups and vulnerable patients will be offered the vaccination over the coming weeks and months, in line with the national priorities of this phased rollout. In the meantime, please follow all the safety guidance to protect yourself, your loved ones and your NHS services.”

Holders of concessionary bus passes in Buckinghamshire will be able to use them at any time when travelling for their COVID-19 vaccination. This includes prior to 9am on Mondays to Fridays.

Several national Vaccination Centres outside of the county have also been set up by the NHS. Some Buckinghamshire residents aged 80 and over, who live 30-45 minutes from the nearest of these sites, may get a letter from the NHS about these. The letter explains how to book a slot at a national site if they do not wish to use one of their local, GP-led sites.

If you get a letter but do not want to use a national vaccination site, you will still be able to arrange an appointment at a local site when contacted by your GP.

Currently, the Vaccination Centre sites closest to Buckinghamshire are:

• Epsom racecourse in Surrey (South East)
• Excel Centre in London (London)
• Robertson House in Stevenage (East of England)