A new DES is set to be announced imminently for practices and PCNs to start administering a Covid vaccine from the beginning of December, Healthcare Leader’s sister title Pulse has reported.
Practices and PCNs will be asked to prepare to give the vaccine to over 85s and front line workers from the start of December, numerous sources have confirmed to Pulse.
There are currently two vaccines that are being prepared, with one requiring two shots and needing to be kept at minus 70 degrees.
Alongside GPs and PCNs, there will be teams delivering it to care homes, and at-scale delivery centres.
Pulse understands there will be sufficient resources allocated to practices.
A number of sources have confirmed to Pulse that an announcement around the DES is imminent, potentially by next week.
It is expected that the vaccines will be delivered in a number of ways, with teams going to care homes and delivery centres, such as those reported by the Economist and the Sun.
Pulse reported last month that the NHS was looking to start the rollout of the vaccine from December, with sources close to the issue putting the chances at ’50/50′.
It has now been confirmed to Pulse by numerous sources that GPs and the whole of the NHS are going to be put on standby to start vaccinating over-85s and frontline workers from early December.
It remains unclear exactly which vaccines will be administered, but Pfizer’s vaccine in development has to be kept at minus 70 degrees, while the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was shown to be more effective when administered in two doses.
There is also no indication as to the efficacy of any vaccine, and the chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance has been keen to play down the chances of an effective vaccine.
This story is exclusive to Healthcare Leader’s sister title Pulse and first appeared there.
