Buckinghamshire, Berks and Oxon 'health region' reaches huge milestone in vaccines administered

Martin Tett revealed this fantastic milestone in his letter to residents, published today.

You can read the rest of the contents below.

Vaccine News

Over a million people have now received a COVID-19 vaccine dose in our health region of Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

This is including 270,000 first doses and 70,000 second doses in Buckinghamshire.

Buckinghamshire is now moving into Phase 2 of the national vaccination programme.

This means that everyone in the groups most vulnerable to COVID-19 has been offered a vaccine, and the roll out will continue down the age groups until everyone over the age of 18 has been offered an appointment.

Anyone aged 42 and over, or who turns 42 before 1 July can now book a vaccine appointment online or by calling 119.

If you’re in an older or more vulnerable group and haven’t had your first dose yet, please do come forward to book your appointment.

The vaccines approved for use in the UK are safe and effective; if you want to read more about the COVID-19 vaccine go to the NHS website.

Vaccine sites and managing your appointment

Vaccines are being offered at sites across Buckinghamshire, including via GPs, mass vaccination sites and local pharmacies, meaning there is somewhere locally where residents will be able to get an appointment.

Wherever you choose to have your vaccine, if you decide to change the date or location for any reason, you must cancel your original appointment.

This helps all the providers and sites manage vaccine supply efficiently, ultimately allowing more people to get vaccinated sooner.

The Mass Vaccination Site in Buckinghamshire has moved from Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) to a new home at the indoor bowls centre at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Road, HP21 9PP.

Anyone due their second dose and who may be affected by the move is being contacted by phone or text so they know their appointment will be at the stadium site now.

Second doses

The NHS has been planning meticulously to make sure people can get their second dose when it is the right time for them to do so.

The same vaccine should be used for both doses and to get maximum protection from COVID-19, everyone will need to get a second dose.

We are therefore urging people to come forward for their second dose of the vaccine when they are contacted or if they have an appointment booked.

Roadmap and rules

We’re now onto Step Two of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown and we hope you’re enjoying long-awaited reunions with family and friends. When you do meet up, it’s essential to stay outside and to stick to the rules on numbers – two households or follow the rule of six. For the full detail on what we currently can and cannot do, please refer to the Government’s website.

We have seen a small rise in cases in Buckinghamshire in the last week which reminds us all not to let our guard down at this vital stage – we all want to keep progressing through the roadmap and opening things back up again.

Please also take advantage of the chance to get tested regularly if you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19. You can go to a local site to get tested or pick up kits to do at home, or have kits sent out to you if it’s hard to get to a test site. Regular testing is one of the ways we can keep on top of the virus and keep getting life back to normal.

#WelcomeBackBucks!

It’s absolutely fantastic to see our local shops, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers, pubs and other businesses back open again. Please support them by shopping local and seeing what’s on offer in your local area. Check the ‘Shop Local’ page on our website.

We’re also offering free parking for the whole of this first month of reopening – meaning parking is free at all our car parks until Tuesday 11 May to make it even easier to visit your local high street. Please remember at all times to adhere to social distancing and wear your face covering indoors.

Remember - Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air – let’s all keep going!