26 March 2021
A temporary change in the opening hours will be put in place at the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin COVID-19 vaccination centres due to the well-publicised reduction in national vaccine supply.
Supplies are said to be reducing from Thursday, 1 April for a period of 3-4 weeks and Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin’s appointment system is being adapted around this, health bosses have confirmed.
There is no need for anyone with a first vaccine appointment already booked at one of the large vaccination centres to be concerned as their appointment will go ahead. If you have a second dose booked for this period, please ensure you attend you appointment.
Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has had a strong start with over a quarter of a million adults in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin having now received a first dose of the vaccine – which includes 91.3% of people aged 50 and over.
During this period of reduced vaccine supply, along with second doses, there will be a focus on our roving model which will provide clinics in community settings for people who are hard to reach; including the homeless and others who have trouble reaching our centres.
Staff who have worked incredible hard on the vaccine programme will be provided with refresher training and health and wellbeing support.
The local NHS is mindful that we are not able to open up the programme to those aged under 50 at present (known as Cohort 10), but as soon as we are allowed and have vaccine available we will.
David Evans, accountable officer for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “Our vaccination delivery programme was designed to be flexible, scaled up and diversified in line with fluctuating international vaccine supplies, so we have planned for this reduction in vaccine supply.
“Although we have to reduce the number of vaccines we’re giving in our centres over the coming weeks, this is a temporary situation, it is occurring across the country relating to the national supply of vaccine. As soon as we’ve got the vaccine supply back we will step the services back up again.
“Please be assured that our vaccination programme is still on track and in line with government targets we will have offered a first dose vaccine to priority groups 1-9 by mid-April. In addition, all our second dose vaccination appointments will go ahead as planned.
“We are now looking at ways of getting to our most vulnerable groups and communities who are harder to reach, ensuring that everyone has equitable access to these vaccines.”
If you would like further information about our vaccination programme in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, please visit: https://www.sath.nhs.uk/covid19/public/#vaccine