Message from our Patient groups in liaison with Practice staff
COVID-19 vaccination progress update
The fantastic news is staff at the surgeries in Hertford and Watton Place Clinic have been working extremely hard to ensure the smooth and efficient rollout of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
To date, nearly every patient aged over 80 years has been vaccinated, with their first or second dose, including the housebound and those in residential or assisted living care. The majority of surgery staff and many care home residents and staff have also been vaccinated.
What happens when I receive a call from the surgery about my vaccination appointment?
Over 75s will be receiving a telephone call from their surgery to book an appointment time. Also, those who are deemed to be clinically vulnerable will start to receive calls very soon afterwards.
All of the surgery booked appointments are held at Hertford Theatre. Please go to the entrance at the side of the Theatre – opposite the public toilets at the side of the Six Templars. There is no parking on the site.
You will be greeted by a volunteer at this door and will be directed through the main theatre auditorium in a COVID-safe manner and into the Studio where you will give your name to reception. You will receive your vaccination and exit through the back of the Theatre. We try to minimise the outside queuing time. You can sit on cleaned chairs in the auditorium if you wish to.
Please do not attend if you feel unwell on the day. Contact the surgery to say you are unwell and cannot attend.
Do not come for your vaccination if you are displaying COVID-like symptoms – a high temperature; a new continuous cough and/or a loss of smell. Ring 111or go to 111.nhs.uk
You must of course, wear a face mask and keep 2 metres apart.
We continue to request you do not to ring the surgery to ask when it is your turn for the vaccine.
Our telephone lines are extremely busy.
Scams
There have been reports in the media of several email and telephone scams inviting people for vaccinations – but they will demand a payment. These are not from the NHS; please ignore them.
You will receive an invitation for your free NHS vaccination in one of two ways:
- By letter from the Stevenage mass vaccination centre at Robertson House
- A phone call from your surgery
Please be aware if you choose to have your first vaccination at Stevenage, you will have to go there to receive the second dose; the Hertford surgeries will not be able to offer this.
You do not have to go to Stevenage to receive your vaccination; you can wait to be offered a local appointment at Hertford Theatre.
For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait/why-you-have-to-wait-for-your-covid-19-vaccine
Meanwhile if you can please avoid ringing the surgery, unless it is for a medical matter, that would be very much appreciated by staff. If you are on social media, then please send this message to friends and check in with your surgery’s website for further updates.
Thank you.