RESIDENTS and staff at care homes in the Forest will be part of a Covid vaccination programme starting tomorrow (Thursday, January 7).

A “roving vaccination team” has been set up to visit all Care Quality Commission-registered homes to inoculate residents and staff within a week using the Astra Zeneca Oxford vaccine.

Dr Paul Weiss, who is one of two clinical directors for the Forest of Dean primary care network (PCN) said: “We have quickly mobilised a team of vaccinators to carry out the important work of vaccinating our vulnerable patients in care homes.

“We are working as many hours as we can to get this completed by Wednesday, January 13.”

Meanwhile, a “minor issue” with vaccine supplies this week has led to some patients having their jab delayed until a special weekend session at the vaccination centre at the former Cinderford surgery in Dockham Road.

Dr Sophia Sandford, who is also a clinical director for the PCN said: “The planning of appointments and booking patients in for their vaccine has been a huge task for surgeries and the PCN.

“We have dedicated resources to rescheduling some appointments following minor disruption to this week’s delivery and we have been successful in obtaining additional supply.

“In order to get through the allocated doses we are adding additional clinics in this weekend and staff are in the process of contacting patients to fill all available appointments.”

The supply problem together with the need to cancel appointments for a second vaccination, following a government decision, has caused “a massive workload” for staff co-ordinating the vaccine programme across the 11 surgeries in the Forest.

Doctors have also renewed their appeal for patients not to call their surgery to try and book an appointment for the Covid vaccine but to wait until contacted.

Because of the number of people to be immunised, patients are asked not to arrive early, to park in the Cinderford Rugby Club car park and to wear masks and follow social distancing.

The PCN is “delighted” with the response from retired health professionals to work at the vaccination centre and training has taken place.

There are also sufficient volunteers to help with the non-vaccination aspects of running the centre.

Surgeries will continue to operate as they are now, open to patients and offering online, telephone and video as well as face-to-face appointments.

Patients are also being advised that telephone lines are extremely busy and to use other methods to contact them for non-urgent matters such as online systems.