More than 70,000 Covid-19 jabs given out at Clair Hall in Haywards Heath

More than 70,000 life-saving Covid-19 jabs have been administered at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath, just five months after it went live as a vaccination centre on December 28.
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Figures from GP federation Alliance for Better Care (ABC) show that, as of May 16, the venue’s vaccination team had given a total of 70,186 jabs.

Some 45,077 of these are first doses and 25,109 are second doses.

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Some 25,624 jabs have been administered at East Grinstead’s Meridian Hall, of which 15,328 are first doses and 10,296 are second doses.

The vaccination team at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Pitcure: Mike AntonThe vaccination team at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Pitcure: Mike Anton
The vaccination team at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Pitcure: Mike Anton

ABC CEO Katherine Saunders said the achievement was ‘a great source of pride’ for the team, adding that more than 240,000 doses have been administered across ABC’s seven sites in Crawley, East Surrey and Mid Sussex.

Katherine said: “We have implemented an agile and effective process that has allowed us to not only roll out seven vaccination centres but also adapt to a roving model and pioneer a mobile vaccination unit to ensure our vaccination programme is accessible to everyone in our communities.”

“We continue to work hard to react to the changing schedule and remain focused on delivering a safe and effective vaccination programme in the coming months,” she said.

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Katherine added that both Mid Sussex vaccination centres had been overwhelmed by their outstanding volunteers and thanked all their partners and staff.

Arrivals at the Covid-19 vaccination site at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Picture: Mike AntonArrivals at the Covid-19 vaccination site at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Picture: Mike Anton
Arrivals at the Covid-19 vaccination site at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath. Picture: Mike Anton

“The volunteers have truly gone above and beyond, providing so much more than just marshalling and guidance onsite,” she said.

“At Clair Hall the volunteers generously gave their time to co-ordinate the revamp of the courtyard area earlier this year.”

The improvements were carried out by Lee and Marcel Duyvesteyn and Paul Cooper with plants supplied by Emily Rae of Plants4Presents, and garden soil supplied by UpCountry Garden Centre.

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Katherine said the Clair Hall team also helped ABC launch their Unicef Covid Vaccine Fund, which has raised 80 per cent of its target so far.

A team member at the vaccination clinic in Meridian Hall, East Grinstead.A team member at the vaccination clinic in Meridian Hall, East Grinstead.
A team member at the vaccination clinic in Meridian Hall, East Grinstead.

The fundraiser, she said, allows visitors at all their sites to donate the equivalent value of their vaccine to support Unicef’s work with families affected by Covid, particularly in countries with weaker health care systems.

Katherine said the Clair Hall and Meridian Hall teams had also received cakes, fish and chips and other gifts.

ABC is now working hard to adjust appointments and support its practices in adapting to any changes in guidance on second doses, said Katherine.

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“We request that patients who are due their second vaccination wait to be contacted,” she said.

Katherine also said ABC will be hosting its last clinic at Meridian Hall on June 4 as the venue prepares to re-open to the community.

She thanked East Grinstead Town Council for its support.

“We have plenty of capacity in our programme for East Grinstead residents and we have started to invite patients to Clair Hall in Haywards Heath for their Covid-19 vaccinations,” she said.

Patients who need a first dose will be invited to Clair Hall and patients awaiting a second dose at Meridian Hall can get them at the East Grinstead venue until June 4.

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Katherine urged residents to accept appointments as soon as they receive them.

A spokesperson for the Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme said: “This week we have reached an incredible milestone for the programme with one million people now vaccinated across Sussex.

“The vaccination services in Mid Sussex have been a vital part of this progress, and the teams at Clair Hall and Meridian Hall have been working incredibly hard to make sure local people are offered this vital protection.

“We remain committed to the continued roll out of this programme as we offer first doses to those remaining in the adult population, and second doses to all those who have already had their first. We encourage everyone who is eligible and who is yet to have their vaccine to arrange their appointment as soon as possible, and for those who are yet to be eligible to come forward when it is your turn over the coming weeks.”

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ABC has been working with Primary Care Networks across Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill to deliver jabs, while volunteers from patient participation groups have been working together to share information with patients.

Lesley and Mike Bright, who are part of Dolphins Practice’s patient participation group, said: “The vaccination programme is going superbly with all participants and patients remarking upon the excellent ambience of the building, the smooth organisation and friendliness of all involved, volunteers and staff alike.”

“We are very lucky to have a building of the quality of Clair Hall for this programme in Haywards Heath,” they added.