A VACCINATION centre has closed after giving out more than 22,000 Covid jabs to allow GPs to keep practices in Darlington open.
Darlington Primary Care Network, which is made up of the town’s 11 GP practices, was running a vaccination centre at The Old BT exchange in Barnard Street to give Covid booster jabs to vulnerable and elderly people in the town.
GPs have given out more than 22,000 Covid vaccinations and 23,000 flu jabs at the centre during the last eight weeks.
It closed on Friday.
Read more: Omicron: Queues form at North East vaccination centres as people book booster jabs
Dr Amanda Riley, clinical director for the PCN, said the closure would enable GPs to keep surgeries open for more patients - and if it were to continue vaccinating it would mean having to cancel all but emergency appointments.
People are able to book booster vaccines at Darlington Arena, where GPs will be helping out when they can.
Dr Riley said: “Darlington PCN opted back in for phase three of the vaccination programme (boosters) as we felt that we were best suited to vaccinate the most vulnerable, elderly, those house-bound and those in care homes.
“We planned to run our vaccination centre for eight weeks to target these groups and as such we gave notice six weeks ago and closed the vaccination centre on Friday, December 10.
“During this time we have vaccinated over 22,000 people with a COVID vaccination and 23,000 people against influenza.
“General Practice is exceptionally busy at present, if we were to continue vaccinating we would have to cancel all but emergency appointments in our practices. Given the challenges people are already facing in accessing GP appointments we strongly feel that our primary responsibility is to keep the practices open and seeing patients.”
So far, 31,029 people in Darlington have received a third Covid jab – giving it the highest vaccination rate in the Tees Valley at 34 per cent.
The NHS is ramping up the booster programme amid rising concerns about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and is bidding to offer all adults a jab by the end of the month.
Anyone over the age of 30 is now eligible for a jab. All adults will be able to book an appointment from Wednesday.
People can book appointments for Covid boosters at Darlington Arena, as well as several pharmacies in the town.
People are being urged to book appointments through the national booking system by calling 119 or online at Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
Dr Riley added: “We will be supporting these sites as vaccinators as much as possible.
“Please remember GP practices cannot book a Covid vaccination or help with any Covid pass issues.
“Please help us to keep the practice phone lines open for those who need to get through urgently.”
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