Information used in this update is correct as of Wednesday 20th January. Please check this page regularly as the information may change. Always defer to the more specific personalised advice that you may receive from your own GP or other healthcare professional.
Many of you have been in touch with me over the last few weeks regarding the vaccine programme roll out. This is something I am working on incredibly closely with our local health providers. It is a fast-moving situation; however, I am keen to ensure everyone has as much information as possible. I have therefore captured below the most frequently asked questions and will be updating it as and when new information becomes available.
As ever, if you have any further questions or wish to discuss a specific case please email me at laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Q. WHERE IN THE CONSTITUENCY CAN I GO TO BE VACCINATED?
There are no ‘walk up’ clinics, and vaccination is by invitation only.
For most of the surgeries within the district there will be two vaccination hubs – one in Swanley and the other in Sevenoaks (see below for details).
It was decided to operate this way as not every surgery had the necessary space and resources (whilst still being able to carry out their usual daily appointments) to provide the vaccine. There are also huge logistical challenges. The vaccine must be stored at incredibly low temperatures and used within three days and there is also equipment and supplies that are associated with administering the vaccine – and it is easier and more efficient to operate out of a hub.
That said, as the Oxford vaccine is easier to store, it may in due course be provided within local surgeries. If and when this happens, I will update you.
I have set out below my current understanding of the situation regarding each GP surgery. If you are aware of updates, please e-mail me:
- Amherst Medical Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD homes
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers) When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update.
- Cedars Surgery, Swanley
- Vaccinations have commenced at The Alexandra Suite, St Mary's Rd, Swanley BR8 7BU
- If you are over 75 you will receive a telephone call offering you an appointment. Alternatively ONLY those 75+ (or anyone booking for someone 75+) can call 01474 555534 between 9am-5pm.
- We are receiving reports that this number is being called by people with general enquires or those trying to book appointments for individuals who are younger than 75. Those doing this are holding up the process for everyone.
- Following reports of people calling and being diverted to another number, we understand this appears to have been caused by people reversing the last two numbers thereby causing their call to be subject to a divert. Please be very careful that you dial the number correctly.
- As soon as appointments are being made for 70-74 year olds, I will share an update. Again, please do not call the surgery.
- Devon Road Surgery, South Darenth
- Vaccinations have commenced at The Alexandra Suite, St Mary's Rd, Swanley BR8 7BU
- If you are over 75 you will receive a telephone call offering you an appointment. Alternatively ONLY those 75+ (or anyone booking for someone 75+) can call 01474 555534 between 9am-5pm.
- We are receiving reports that this number is being called by people with general enquires or those trying to book appointments for individuals who are younger than 75. Those doing this are holding up the process for everyone.
- Following reports of people calling and being diverted to another number, we understand this appears to have been caused by people reversing the last two numbers thereby causing their call to be subject to a divert. Please be very careful that you dial the number correctly.
- As soon as appointments are being made for 70-74 year olds, I will share an update. Again, please do not call the surgery.
- Farningham - Braeside Surgery
- Vaccinations have commenced at The Alexandra Suite, St Mary's Rd, Swanley BR8 7BU
- If you are over 75 you will receive a telephone call offering you an appointment. Alternatively ONLY those 75+ (or anyone booking for someone 75+) can call 01474 555534 between 9am-5pm.
- We are receiving reports that this number is being called by people with general enquires or those trying to book appointments for individuals who are younger than 75. Those doing this are holding up the process for everyone.
- Following reports of people calling and being diverted to another number, we understand this appears to have been caused by people reversing the last two numbers thereby causing their call to be subject to a divert. Please be very careful that you dial the number correctly.
- As soon as appointments are being made for 70-74 year olds, I will share an update. Again, please do not call the surgery.
- Hextable Surgery
- Vaccinations have commenced at The Alexandra Suite, St Mary's Rd, Swanley BR8 7BU
- If you are over 75 you will receive a telephone call offering you an appointment. Alternatively ONLY those 75+ (or anyone booking for someone 75+) can call 01474 555534 between 9am-5pm.
- We are receiving reports that this number is being called by people with general enquires or those trying to book appointments for individuals who are younger than 75. Those doing this are holding up the process for everyone.
- Following reports of people calling and being diverted to another number, we understand this appears to have been caused by people reversing the last two numbers thereby causing their call to be subject to a divert. Please be very careful that you dial the number correctly.
- As soon as appointments are being made for 70-74 year olds, I will share an update. Again, please do not call the surgery.
- New Ash Green (and Longfield) Surgery
- Patients of the Jubilee Medical Practice (New Ash Green and Longfield) are receiving their vaccinations at Meopham Medical Centre, Wrotham Road, DA13 0AH.
- You will initially be contacted by text (if they have your mobile phone number). For those without mobiles, you will be contacted via your landline. If after 3 attempts they cannot reach you by telephone, you will be sent a letter.
- So far those aged 80 and over have been contacted.
- From Saturday 23 January they will commence inviting those who are 75-79 years old.
- If you are 75 years old or younger, please wait to be contacted concerning your appointment. Please do not contact the surgery.
- For more information please visit: https://www.jubileemg.nhs.uk/news/covid-19-vaccination-update
- Oaks Partnership, Swanley
- Vaccinations have commenced at The Alexandra Suite, St Mary's Rd, Swanley BR8 7BU
- If you are over 75 you will receive a telephone call offering you an appointment. Alternatively ONLY those 75+ (or anyone booking for someone 75+) can call 01474 555534 between 9am-5pm.
- We are receiving reports that this number is being called by people with general enquires or those trying to book appointments for individuals who are younger than 75. Those doing this are holding up the process for everyone.
- Following reports of people calling and being diverted to another number, we understand this appears to have been caused by people reversing the last two numbers thereby causing their call to be subject to a divert. Please be very careful that you dial the number correctly.
- As soon as appointments are being made for 70-74 year olds, I will share an update. Again, please do not call the surgery.
- Otford Medical Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD homes
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers)When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update.
- St Johns Medical Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD homes
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers). When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update
- South Park Medical Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD homes
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers). When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update
- Town Medical Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD homes
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers). When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update
- West Kingsdown Medical Centre
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Dartford Football Club, Grass Banks, Dartford, DA1 1RT
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- I know this location is not ideal. Doctors surgeries work within what are known as “Primary Care Networks” (“PCN”) . Each PCN makes a decision upon one site for their particular network to administer the vaccine. The West Kingsdown practice is part of the Temple Hill Group who in turn are part of a PCN with Redwood Practice and Horsman Place Surgery and the local PCN therefore chose to locate the vaccination centre at Dartford Football Club
- If you are in difficulty with transportation to and from the site, please see below for some helpful links to arrange transportation. If you are still facing transport difficulties please contact me
- Westerham Practice
- Vaccinations are now underway at the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, Beadle House, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 2JD
- All care homes in the area have been visited – and shortly visits will commence to the housebound
- Please wait to be notified when you will receive the vaccine and do not contact the surgery
- Under no circumstances should you contact the Sevenoaks Medical Centre about vaccinations – nor should you visit it without an appointment – they are kindly hosting the vaccinations but are not organising it
- Appointments are currently for the two priority groupings (the over 80s and frontline health and social care workers). When I become aware of appointments being made for those below 80 I will share an update
If you have a surgery that sits outside of the constituency – particularly in the London Borough of Bromley, I will endeavour to obtain information as soon as I can relating to the rollout in these areas.
Q. WHO CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE A VACCINE AT THIS TIME?
For vaccines, the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) – an independent body of experts – advises the government on prioritisation. JCVI has advised an approach that prioritises those in care homes first, then those aged 80 and older and front-line health and social care staff. Beyond these groups, prioritisation is a mix of age (in 5-year intervals) and younger people who are clinically vulnerable.
A useful summary table produced by the BBC based on the JCVI guidance can be found below:
The current approach prioritises reducing mortality over reducing transmission and therefore targets vaccination at those most likely to sadly die as a result of COVID-19. Given age is the primary predictor of COVID-19 mortality, this means targeting older people. It would be necessary to vaccinate around 32 times more 60–64-year olds than those older than 90 year old to save a life, or six times as many to save one year of life.
Front-line health and social care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable will also be vaccinated. You can find a list of conditions deemed clinically extremely vulnerable here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#cev
If this applies to you, you will already have been shielding and should previously have had a letter within the last nine months.
Although the vaccine prioritisation does not take account of profession, ‘need’ or economic activity, it is important to note that we all benefit from this approach as the quicker the risk of mortality is reduced, the lower the pressure on our hospitals and the sooner we can all return to something closer to ‘normal life’.
Q. I AM ON THE LIST BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING; WHO SHOULD I CALL?
It is early days in the deployment process locally, so please do not call your GP surgery.
When people call their GP’s it merely takes away resources that are badly needed elsewhere, including making the arrangements to contact patients for their vaccination.
I am in constant communication with GP surgeries and the Kent & Medway Clinal Commissioning Group, who provide updates.
The only exception to contacting your local surgery is if you are in groups 1 – 5, you have moved home recently and believe that your GP may not have the correct contact details for you.
Q. WILL THE VACCINATION HUBS WITHIN YOUR CONSTITUENCY HAVE PARKING AVAILABLE, AND WILL I HAVE TO PAY?
In Swanley
- The vaccinations in Swanley will take place at the Alexandra Suite adjacent to the Swanley Town Council Offices, and parking is available on the ground floor in the car park immediately outside.
- Whilst vaccinations take place, parking in this car park will be free. The barrier will be left open and the enforcement cameras turned off.
- The car park is also step free, so should be fully accessible, however do let me know if anyone faces difficulties.
- If you park anywhere else in Swanley, normal parking charges apply,
In Sevenoaks
- The vaccinations in Sevenoaks are taking place in the Sevenoaks Medical Centre on London Road, and parking has now been made available within the South Eastern Sevenoaks Station car park.
- To access this, please drive to the end of Morewood Close to reach the station car park. Marshal’s will then let you into the lower car park
- If someone else has driven you to the site, and your appointment is called, they can take you from the holding area, and drop you near to the entrance of the Sevenoaks Medical Centre. They will then be able to return to the holding area until you have been vaccinated.
- If you have driven yourself, but have mobility problems, please tell the marshal’s and they can arrange for you (when your appointment is due) to park closer to the Medical Centre.
Q. ARE THERE ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR PATIENTS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE VACCINE HUBS?
In the meantime, information regarding patient transport options can be found via the following website link:
If you know of, or experience any transportation issues please let me know by emailing laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk. I will then raise this as a matter of urgency.
Q. I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER INVITING ME TO BOOK ONLINE FOR A VACCINATION - BUT IT IS OFFERING ME LOCATIONS SUCH AS EPSOM RACECOURSE OR THE EXCEL CENTRE IN LONDON. THESE ARE ALL TOO FAR AWAY, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The letter sent by the NHS is offering an alternative option to receive the vaccine, without having to wait for your GP surgery to contact you.
If you are able to attend one of the mass vaccination sites, you can help relieve the pressure on your local vaccination hub.
However, if you cannot get to one of these sites, or do not wish to go – please do not worry. You will still be called to your local vaccination hub when it is your turn. Your normal surgery will still contact you to make an appointment – even if you have had one of the NHS letters
As mass vaccination centres are rolled out, I anticipate there will be more conveniently located such sites, and I am calling for one to be introduced locally.
Q. WHY ARE THE VACCINATIONS TAKING PLACE IN NEWLY FORMED HUBS? WHY CAN'T IT BE IN MY LOCAL VILLAGE HALL, DOCTORS SURGERY OR PHARMACY?
Vaccinations are being administered from local hubs primarily due to the storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine. As many of you will know, it has to be stored initially at incredibly low temperatures and once delivered, the doses must be used within 3½ days. In order to achieve this effectively and efficiently without waste, local GPs decided that central hubs are the best way for this to be provided.
For instance, a local pharmacy is unlikely to be able to deliver enough doses in 3 1/2 days, and the vaccine cannot be moved around too much - otherwise it ceases to work. Additionally, space is needed for 15 minute socially distanced waits post vaccination to check for allergic reactions. This again is not possible in small sites. It is an intense and difficult operation, and a lot of work has therefore gone into setting up the hubs, so they are safe and efficient.
That being said, the Oxford vaccine does offer more opportunities. It can be stored like a flu vaccine, so it is easier to administer. As the use of the Oxford vaccine increases, some local surgeries have now been authorised to administer it at the surgeries. I am working hard to ensure additional local locations are added as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. In the meanwhile, the central hub will still remain the main location for vaccinations, so if you are invited for an appointment it is important you attend.
Q. WHY HAS THE LOCAL ROLL OUT OF THE VACCINE TAKEN THIS LONG?
First, can I thank you all for your patience. I know people are disappointed that (other than in a few cases) the vaccine has not been available within our district so far. I too share these concerns, however rolling out the vaccine is a massive logistical exercise and there are 42 Primary Care Networks across Kent. The first locations opened in early December and have been steadily added to. You can find those locations through this link as well as other useful information; https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine?fbclid=IwAR2CyCtTsNW8__SMg0JrVwRkwH-NHXBPAfjEfDQUukHV-8cPlG8LID9q_Ys
As I mentioned above, the vaccine is mainly being administered via hubs. In the case of our district these hubs are not within existing GP surgeries. This meant these venues had to be checked by the authorities before being given the go-ahead. Your local GPs decided this was the best way to proceed in order to prevent there being any interference to the operation of local surgeries for non-covid patients.
This is an unprecedented vaccination programme and local GP practices have been working hard to prepare for the local rollout. I know they are giving it their all to ensure that vaccinations take place as soon as possible, and we should thank them and their staff for all that they are doing.
Q. WHO IS CO-ORDINATING VACCINATION SITES LOCALLY?
A number of NHS and Government agencies are directly involved in the effort to set up vaccination sites across the country. Kent & Medway CCG are co-ordinating the delivery of vaccination sites across Kent alongside our local Primary Care Networks. The distribution of the vaccine itself is being co-ordinated on a national level.
Q. WHERE CAN I FIND THE LATEST DATA ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS IN ENGLAND?
The latest stats for England can be found: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/
Q. HOW CAN I HELP WITH THE VACCINATION ROLL OUT?
You can apply for a role to help with the vaccination programme – either carrying out the vaccination or helping with administration support or cleaning.
If you are interest, please visit: https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination-roles/kent-covid-19-vaccination-programme/
COVID VACCINATION SCAM ALERT - WARNING FROM KENT & MEDWAY CCG
I have been made aware that some people are receiving fraudulent calls and text messages offering the Covid-19 vaccination.
In some cases, people are asked to press a number on their keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine. Doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill. In other cases, callers are offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details.
Please be alert to these scams.
The vaccine is only available from the NHS and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn.
The NHS will:
- NEVER ask you to press a button on your keypad to confirm you want a vaccine.
- NEVER ask for payment for the vaccine or for your bank details.
If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Kent Police online or phone 101.