Lambeth doctors’ hub gives almost a thousand patients Covid-19 vaccine in a week at up to two every minute – but there are seven times that number of over-80s to go yet

EXCLUSIVE BY REBECCA SPENCER

Lambeth GP Federation administered 970 Covid vaccinations this week to essential workers and over 80-year-olds.

The Hurley Clinic on Kennington Lane was open for vaccinations from 8am-8pm this week, and on Monday the first 10 vaccinations were administered.

They were followed by 240 on Tuesday, 340 on Wednesday, and 380 on Thursday by six to seven doctors, nurses, and pharmacists at any one time.

Director of the Lambeth GP Federation Michele Izzo, said: “It was an honour to meet with the older patients and be able to give them some hope.

“The patients and the staff became emotional at times.

“Some of these patients haven’t left their houses for months and have been feeling incredibly lonely.”

Lambeth GP Federation received 10 days’ notification that they would be ready to run the vaccinations.

They sent texts and made calls to the elderly and health and social care staff to book the 970 appointments over the days leading up to the 14 December.

Every appointment attendee showed up to their appointment, but unfortunately a few patients had to be turned away as the PfizerBioNTech vaccine is not suitable for some people with allergies as it carries a risk of anaphylactic shock.

Izzo said: “There was no anxiety about taking this vaccination – our older population are so keen to get back to some normality.”

Vaccinated patients need to receive a booster within 21-28 days after their first injection, the Hurley Clinic will be welcoming back the 970 patients for their second injection when they receive the second batch on the 4/5 January.

There are 8,098 over 80-year-olds in Lambeth, and those who have not yet received the vaccine will be called upon according to priority as soon as the Lambeth GP Federation receives notification of the next lot of vaccines.

In this first batch, 975 vaccines had originally been sent to the clinic but 5 had become contaminated and were unusable.

“The vaccine is very new and very volatile, it has to be handled, mixed and stored very carefully,” said Izzo.

Picture: Denzel Kennedy, a front line receptionist, receiving the Covid vaccination. PHOTO: Lambeth GP Federation