Townsend Medical Practice starts preparations for COVID vaccinations

Townsend Medical Practice in Seaton has started making preparations for potential COVID-19 vaccines.

Following national news that 10 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine could be available to the UK by the end of this year, medical practices across the region have been preparing for a mass immunisation roll-out.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is said to have prevented 90% of people getting coronavirus in the late stages of its trial.

Townsend Medical Practice is now making preparations so it is ready to offer vaccines to patients when they become available.

They described this as a "mammoth challenge" and have been asking patients for the views on whether or not they would like to be vaccinated, and whether they'd be willing to travel to another nearby town, i.e. Beer, Colyton or Axminster, to have the vaccine.

The majority of those answering on social media have said yes to both questions.

A spokesperson for Townsend Medical Practice said: "Thank you all very much for your comments regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as stated we are currently at the planning stage and it has been extremely useful for us to receive this information.

"We will be offering the vaccine to those people who want to receive it, and can confirm that we will be following NHS England and Public Health guidelines.

"We will be issuing updates as to how, where and when the vaccination program will take place."