Hospitals in Mansfield chosen as one of the first 50 to roll out Covid vaccine

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Mansfield Community Hospital, King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton and Newark Hospital, have been chosen as one of the main ‘hubs’ to administer the jab to the over 80s and care home staff.

The vaccine will first be rolled-out to NHS Trusts, then to GP practices operating large scale vaccination sites and finally administered by primary care in the community.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Leicester Partnership NHS Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have also been nominated as ‘vaccine hubs’ to distribute the jab.

As the vaccine, which is said to be 95% effective, becomes more available, the jab will then be extended to other at risk groups.

However as the vaccine is distributed in trays with doses for around 975 people, the jab cannot be delivered to GPs and pharmacists using typical distribution channels.

The jab will only be distributed to care homes once regulators have approved the packs to be ‘split’ up into smaller groups to vaccinate people.

PPE and critical clinical and non-clinical consumables such as syringes, medical gloves and masks will be delivered through a national distribution service to vaccination sites across the country.

The supply of disposable medical wear to each hub will enable hospitals, GPs and pharmacies to offer vaccinations seven days a week and for 12 hours per day.

All Trusts that have been selected to administer the jab must have a plan to vaccinate their own workforce and support employees at neighbouring trusts.

The main bulk of the vaccination programme for people which are deemed at risk of catching the virus is expected to take place between January and April.

Head of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens said residents would be contacted by the NHS when they were ready to vaccinate them based on their priority level.

Boris Johnson admitted he hoped the jab could be sent into care homes “as soon as possible” – but this is unable to happen until the MHRA authorise the division of the trays of doses into smaller groups.

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