Covid-19 vaccine supplies to GP sites will double from 15 March, Pulse reports.
The news comes after the announcement that the Government aims to run the revaccination campaign before the end of 2021, and that GPs and practice teams were now delivering around 75% of vaccine doses in England. Last month 15m people received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccination in the UK.
The NASGP has previously reported that February saw a huge surge in activity on LocumDeck, its bespoke booking system for GP locum sessions.
Mid-month statistics show that sessional GPs had broken existing records this month on three counts:
– Highest number of bookings for GP locums in one month.
– Highest number of GP locums booking sessions in one month.
– Highest number of GP practices making bookings with GP locums in one month.
It is thought that GP locums may be in higher demand to support colleagues who are running Covid-19 vaccination clinics.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, said: “It’s great news that general practice is already planning the revaccination programme for this coming winter. With the wheels already in motion for everyone to receive their booster dose, and double the existing rate, GPs have shown that general practice is fully capable of managing this demand.
“But as new ONS data on the over-80s shows, public behaviour is already starting to change and people are breaking lockdown rules in increasing numbers.
“A significant proportion of vaccinated people have got doctor’s appointments on their minds. It’s this demand, and demand from younger patients as they too receive their vaccinations, that is going to cause an unprecedented demand for a flexible GP workforce going forward.”
