Sheffield surgery reopens after running out of vaccine – as GP sets huge vaccination target

A Sheffield vaccination hub is back up and running and ready to give jabs to 2,500 residents before next Friday after being closed for 10 days due to supply issues.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Dr Ollie Hart, director of the Heeley-Plus Primary Care Network, said it was ‘fantastic’ to see an ‘early flurry’ of people arrive at the Matthews Practice vaccination centre for their jabs this morning (Wednesday, February 17).

“I’m not lying, it’s been tricky. We’ve been closed for 10 days with no supply last week,” he said on Twitter.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"And now we’re open across the next 10 days with 2,500 people being done between now and next Friday.”

Volunteer Andy Jackson (right) with Dr Ollie Hart at Mathews Practice vaccination centre.Volunteer Andy Jackson (right) with Dr Ollie Hart at Mathews Practice vaccination centre.
Volunteer Andy Jackson (right) with Dr Ollie Hart at Mathews Practice vaccination centre.

The GP called for ‘transparency’ from the Government over problems with supply in the past, after the surgery was left ‘craving’ stocks of the vaccine back in January.

But Dr Hart is now hopeful that supply will keep ‘steadily coming through now as we get more and more mature with our supply chain’.

“We’ve hit the 15 million mark- now we’ve just got to keep going,” he added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So far, 172,738 people aged 70 plus, along with 111,302 people aged 16-69, have had the first dose of the vaccine to 7 February in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

At least 15 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was an "extraordinary feat" reached just over two months after the first jab was given on December 8.

But the PM added there was still a ‘long way to go’ in defeating the virus and nobody was ‘resting on their laurels’.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.