GPs have been given the green light by NHS England to start vaccinating care home residents and staff in England.
In a bulletin inviting GPs to order a full pack of 975 Pfizer-BioNTech Covid doses or packs of 75 to take into care homes, NHS England will “initiate the delivery of the vaccine through local vaccination sites to care home residents and their staff, starting with larger care homes.”
It is understood care homes with over 50 beds will first receive the vaccine.
Operating procedures recommend a minimum four-visit vaccination schedule to care homes: one – first dose for all, or most, residents and staff on site; two - second visit one week later to capture staff or residents who were unavailable on the day; three – second dose scheduled for the period of time specified by the vaccine manufacturer; four - to capture outstanding doses one week later.
NHS England said its priority is to vaccinate care home residents and staff, and continue to vaccinate over 80s and health care workers.
“The rollout will begin during the week commencing 21 December through wave 1, 2 and 3 sites, followed shortly by local vaccination sites in later waves. Please order additional vaccine in order to vaccinate your care homes,” the bulletin added.
NHS England said sites will be supplied with equipment free of charge.
