Doncaster’s hospitals are ready for the Covid-19 vaccine

Richard Parker, chief executive of Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said sites had been preparing in order to get ready for the vaccines and are now in a position to begin programmes as of the start of December.

The news comes as the UK vaccine regulator has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

The UK has secured 40 million doses – enough to vaccinate 20 million people and should be rolled out as early as next week.

Residents in care homes and their carers are first on the list followed by those aged over 80 and frontline NHS and social care workers.

The UK is the first country in the world to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, with the UK regulator stressing the ‘most rigorous scientific assessment’ was carried out before approving the jab and the vaccine met ‘rigorous high standards’.

Mr Parker, speaking to councillors on DMBC, said: “We are ready to start vaccinating our healthcare staff from the start of the month, it’s not like a flu campaign, this is two vaccines with a period of 21 to 28 days depending on what jab is available but we are ready as and when it’s approved.

“The vaccine will give us a huge benefit of returning our hospitals, communities and the country to normal is really some light at the end of the tunnel and we’ll all be looking forward to that.

“The optimism around mass and rapid testing is a huge benefit for us and also to our communities.

“We worked really positively with all our partners, whether that be the CCG, the council, the voluntary sector and others. It’s been a huge team effort across the board.

“If patients can’t leave the hospital then it puts us under even more pressure so these services are vital.”

As of November 27, Doncaster’s infection rate stands at around 200 cases per 100,000 and has been decreasing since the end of October. There have been 483 deaths across the borough from Covid-19.

Doncaster, along with the rest of South Yorkshire went into Tier 3, the highest coronavirus restrictions banning household mixing and pubs and restaurants reopening but for takeaways.

South Yorkshire will be reviewed on December 16 to see if it is placed into Tier 2, with softer restrictions.

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