Vaccinations
When will we get our Covid-19 vaccinations?
The most recent priority list was produced by the JCVI on 30th December 2020. This puts 'all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers' second in the priority ranking, after 'residents in a care home for older adults and their carers'.
The national optical bodies have confirmed that optometrists, dispensing opticians and practice teams will be included in this 'frontline' group. The government has since confirmed that all within these top rankings should have been offered their vaccinations by mid-February. We understand that the rollout will be managed differently in different parts of the country. We regularly contact our NHS England regional teams, local CCGs, and Regional Vaccination Operation Centres, to request details of the local rollout. As soon as we learn anything, we will update this page.
13th January 2021 - Further to the details below, several MK colleagues have informed us that they have now booked their slots for the vaccination, and many are still available at the time of writing. At present, I'm afraid that we are still awaiting information on vaccination access for those working in the Bucks CCG area.
11th January 2021 - MK CCG sent a link to enable all patient-facing optical staff in MK to book a slot to receive the vaccine at MKUH. This was forwarded to the LOC's main contacts in MK practices, for onward distribution. For ID purposes at the hospital, you might need a name badge or payslip with the company name on it, and a driving licence or similar for confirmation.
Please contact Angela: [email protected] if you are based in MK and you have not received the booking link. Don't turn up without booking, or you will be turned away.
8th January 2021 - LOCSU sets out the current situation regarding the rollout of vaccines.
7th January 2021- NHS England published Operational Guidance: Vaccination of Frontline Health & Social Care Workers. This confirms that, by mid-January, NHS Trusts will establish ‘hospital hubs’ and will be the default provider of Covid-19 vaccinations for "all healthcare and social care workers". This includes frontline staff in primary eyecare settings. ABDO and the AOP have issued this advice:
"At this stage:
- Employed staff do not need to take any further action
- Employers should read Appendix 1 section 5: “HR, Staff Engagement and Communications” and do what they can to support staff with questions they might have and to help coordinate efforts where contacted to do so
All optical sector bodies are working together to support this effort and will keep you up to date with developments."
5th January 2021 - Alexia Stenning - Associate Director, Primary Care Commissioning and Transformation, BLMK Commissioning Collaborative - has advised us that members of optical staff who are registered with a GP practice in MK should contact the practice and advise them that they are healthcare workers. She went on to say: "The practice will then be running a waiting list and will re code them as one of the eligible cohorts and then the person in question will be called up for their vaccine."
We have still received no guidance for those registered with GPs in other CCGs.
Here's a link to NHS information about Covid-19 vaccines.
For further information on vaccines and vaccination procedures, see Chapter 14a of 'The Green Book'.
Will we be called upon to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations?
As yet, local optical professionals have not been specifically asked to contribute to the vaccine delivery programme, but you can express your interest in any future roles here.