Another shot in the arm as first Northampton pharmacy joins Covid-19 jabs roll-out

A Northampton pharmacy is among the first in the county to join the roll-out of Covid-19 jabs.

The NHS announced two months ago that life-saving coronavirus jabs would be delivered at High Street pharmacies as part of the massive vaccination programme.

And more than 120,000 signed a petition launched by the Chronicle & Echo newspaper and sister titles across the country calling for pharmacies to be allowed to join the scheme to pump out vaccines.

Finally, Touchwood Pharmacy in Kingsthorpe, has become one of only two community pharmacies in Northamptonshire to start giving Covid jabs.

The two dedicated sites, Touchwood, and Pickfords pharmacy in Corby, will enable jabs to be administered to hundreds more patients each day and give patients extra choice about where they can be vaccinated.

Chris Pallot, director of Northamptonshire’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, admitted: “I am delighted our first pharmacy sites are now live as they provide yet another weapon in our arsenal in the fight against coronavirus.

"The pharmacy sites complement the existing vaccination sites and offer further choice to patients.

“Once you become eligible for a vaccine you will be invited by your GP Practice or via a letter from the national booking centre. The letter will enable patients to book an appointment directly at one of the pharmacy sites or the vaccination centre at Moulton Park.

"Patients who would prefer to be vaccinated at their local GPs should wait to be contacted by their practice.”

Anne-Marie King, chief officer of the Northamptonshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee added: “The NHS coronavirus vaccination programme is the largest in the history of the NHS and I am delighted our local pharmacy teams are now able to join the effort to bring the vaccine to as many eligible people as quickly as possible.

“Pharmacy teams have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and, as we accelerate the vaccination programme, they are playing a vital role in delivering the life-saving jabs to those in their communities.”

Krina Patel, on behalf of Touchwood Pharmacy said: “We have just completed our first weekend open and I’m happy to say it all went smoothly. It’s a great feeling to know that our team are making a difference during this pandemic.”

NHS staff at the Moulton Park hub and GP surgeries across the county delivered 228,834 first doses out of a target population of 584,635 by the end of February at a rate of around 35,000 a week .