Make it ten minutes away not ten miles

As vaccine centres prepare to open in Tangmere and Selsey we are calling on the government to allow all local pharmacists to help

The Observer series and its sister titles across the UK today challenge Boris Johnson to ensure that every citizen is only a short walk away from a vaccine centre.

We urge him to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies as front-line Covid vaccine centres as part of that.

Despite news today from Government that they will expand the use of the very limited number of the 200 largest pharmacies it is essential that every single one is given a cast-iron assurance that they will be allowed to play their part – with the minimum of red tape.

Local pharmacies are highly trusted by their communities – and are convenient to access.

The Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme has told the Observer that although there are four vaccine centres in our district, no Chichester city centre sites had been deemed suitable due to a ‘tight criteria’.

This is even more reason to allow our local pharmacists to step in and help.

Hundreds of people in Chichester are booked in to receive their first Covid-19 vaccine this week and by the start of next week, more than 1,500 in the south of the district will be vaccinated.

A spokesperson for the Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme confirmed vaccinations in the district will be administered at four Gp-led sites – two in the north and two in the south, The two sites in the south, at the Selsey Centre and Tangmere Village Centre, will begin vaccinating people over the age of 80 at the end of this week, as soon as they receive their deliveries.

The spokesman said: “All of the preparations are going well this week, and hundreds of people across the south of Chichester District are booked in to receive their first Covid-19 vaccine this week... by the start of next week they will have vaccinated more than 1,500 people.”

A Gp-led vaccination service in Pulborough has already started to deliver the vaccine for patients in the north of the district – those registered at Pulborough Medical Group and Loxwood Surgery, said the spokesman.

A vaccination service will be launched at Riverbank Medical Surgery in Midhurst in the coming weeks to serve other residents in the north, including those registered at The Petworth Surgery.

Several residents have queried why a site has not been set up in Chichester city centre. The Observer has received dozens of letters from residents frustrated at the lack of a city centre site (see pages 24 and 25). Many have made suggestions of buildings that they feel should be considered, including lesiure centres and theatres.

The spokesman for the vaccination service said while there has been ‘incredible support’ from the community with identifying venues, the tight criteria meant none of these were deemed to be suitable. The spokesman explained that sites needed to be able to accommodate large numbers of people – at least 300 a day – and also required space for people to wait and to be monitored for a short time afterwards. Sites also need to have internet access, IT and facilities to be able to carry out the vaccination safely and in line with government guidance.

Early on, Chichester GP practices agreed that their own surgeries would not be appropriate. This is because they could not provide the vaccination programme on behalf of all GP practices from one site, alongside their individual day to day support for patients. It is also important that staff have long term access to the site, as the vaccination programme is likely to continue for months over the course of this year.

The spokesperson for the Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme said: “Thanks to an extraordinary effort by the NHS, the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be further up and running across the Chichester District from this week, meaning everyone over the age of 80 living in the area will begin to receive a vaccination in a phased way.

“The two new Gp-led vaccination services will start providing vaccinations for people over the age of 80 registered with Chichester GP practices in the south of the district. This is in addition to the Gp-led vaccination service in Pulborough who have already started delivering the vaccine for some patients living in the north of the district since the start of the year and the hospital hub which went live at St Richard’s Hospital last week.

“A further Gp-led vaccination service site in Midhurst will also start vaccinating local residents in the north in the coming weeks bringing the total for Chichester District to four, which means our dedicated teams can continue their efforts to make sure the vaccination is given to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

“We recognise some people will have to travel further than others to get their vaccination depending on where they live in the local area. We have had incredible support from community transport providers and other groups in the Chichester District which can offer transport to people attending one of the GP led vaccination services for their vaccine appointment.”

The spokesman said if anyone needs support with getting to their appointment they should speak to the booking team when they contact you to arrange your appointment and they can share details of transport to help you. People will be contacted when it is their turn to get the vaccination. You do not need to contact your GP or another NHS service to book an appointment.

The spokesman stressed the location of the Gp-led vaccination service did not affect the speed by which people living in the district would receive their vaccination, saying it largely depends on availability and the priority groups.

St Richard’s Hospital said its hub is for people over 80 attending a planned appointment and frontline health and care staff.