‘We’ll work round-the-clock’
Welshpool launches its vaccination programme on Monday, starting with the 75-79 age cohort, but Dr Waseem Aslam pledged that the team would do everything it can to get as many people vaccinated in the shortest time.
Dr Aslam, a representative on the North Powys GP Practices group, said that all local GP surgeries have asked the Welsh Government to be provided with as many vaccines as possible.
“Our doctors, nurses and admin staff are willing to volunteer to open surgeries with extended hours or if required on weekends as we want to vaccinate our patients as quickly as possible,” he said.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic, unprecedented. What is vital and essential is that we are all disciplined to help facilitate the process of vaccination effectively and efficiently.
“How can everyone play a role and help? To realise that, as doctors, we appreciate that the way out of pandemic is vaccination. This is our top priority and we are working tirelessly to make it happen.
“This is the time when we need to show the same resolve and discipline as if we are in a war scenario. It is a war that we are in.
“This is not the time to complain and point mistakes or blame but to show our character as a nation. We need to stand together, support each other and come out of this fighting.”
Sixteen GP surgeries are set to join the Powys vaccination programme, which has so far operated from three hubs in Newtown, Builth Wells and Brecon.
The Welsh Government has set a target of mid-March to have the top nine groups vaccinated, which is everyone aged over 50 and those with underlying health conditions.
Health chiefs have reiterated their plea not to telephone and enquire for a vaccine, but to wait to be contacted with an official invitation.
Even after the first vaccine is administered, the advice remains the same to stay home unless absolutely essential to leave the house, or for daily exercise.
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