Doctors' surgeries across Richmond this week began administering the Covid-19 vaccine to elderly patients.

Residents will be invited by their surgery to receive the vaccine; there is no need to call yourself.

The two-part coronavirus vaccine involves patients returning for a second dose 21 days later.

Health and social care workers and care homes have been identified as the first priority groups, as well as those over 80 years old.

This priority list is as follows:

1. residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2. all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
3. all those 75 years of age and over
4. all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
5. all those 65 years of age and over
6. all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7. all those 60 years of age and over
8. all those 55 years of age and over
9. all those 50 years of age and over

Vaccination in hospitals

Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, were among the first to receive the life-saving jab.

Hospitals are also beginning to invite over 80s in Richmond in for a jab and are working with care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics.

Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

Safety of jab

The vaccine approved for use in the UK was developed by Pfizer/BioNTech.

It has met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Other vaccines are being developed. They will only be available on the NHS once they have been thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe and effective.

Some 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are being made available across the UK.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short term, and not everyone gets them. Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, you still need to have the second dose.

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Although you may get some protection from the first dose, having the second dose will give you the best protection against the virus.

Very common side effects include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1-2 days after the vaccine.
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have Covid-19 or another infection.

An uncommon side effect is swelling of the glands. You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better.

These symptoms normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, contact your doctor.

People should not attend if:

• you currently have Covid-19
• you have had a fever for any reason in the previous 48 hours.
• you have allergies and carry an auto-injector adrenaline device such as a EpiPen.

What to do while you wait for vaccine

The vaccine roll-out is in line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance.

It is a complex task that will a number of months and Richmond Council has asked residents to be patient and keep focused on observing covid guidance so we can keep ourselves and families safe.

Council leader Cllr Gareth Roberts said: "Clearly the development of a vaccine offers a real glimmer of hope to all of us at the end of what has been the most challenging year many of us have ever experienced.

"To be able to socialise again, to enjoy life without worrying constantly about Covid-19 is something I know we all want. The prospect of a vaccine means that all of this may be possible.

"However, we need to be absolutely clear; we are not there yet, and we won't be for some time.

"The NHS are leading on the vaccination programme and the council is supporting health colleagues on making sure they have all the support they need to identify suitable venues and all the access they require so they are ready to go.

"The logistics of this are complicated and the task is huge. So, we need everyone to be patient.

The NHS will keep expanding the programme as they get more doses of the vaccine and people will be contacted when the time is right to come forward.

"As a council, we made sure that our residents and staff have had access to Covid-19 testing throughout the pandemic and we will continue to do so over the weeks and months ahead.

"This is a marathon and not a sprint. We will continue to update residents on the latest with the vaccine but in the meantime, please continue to do your bit to protect one another - think Hands, Face and Space and remember to self-isolate and get tested if you experience symptoms. We need to all work together to keep Richmond upon Thames safe."

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