Bexhill’s vaccine programme starts offering second doses

Bexhill’s vaccine programme has started offering second doses of the Covid-19 vaccines today.
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The rollout – which is being carried out at the Sidley Medical Practice – will simultaneously offer first dose vaccines to those in priority group six – the clinically vulnerable and high risk.

Dr Binodh C Bhaskaran the clinical director overseeing Bexhill’s vaccination programme, said patients in the priority groups one to five – who received their first doses between December and February – will be invited to receive their second doses during clinics which started today.

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Dr Bhaskaran said: “All those who received Pfizer as first dose at the hub will receive Pfizer as second dose and those who received Astrazeneca vaccine as first dose will receive Astrazeneca as second dose.”

Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett.

Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network. SUS-210130-120021001Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett.

Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network. SUS-210130-120021001
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network. SUS-210130-120021001

Dr Bhaskaran previously said all patients receiving their second dose would receive the Pfizer jab, and those receiving their first jab would have the Astrazeneca jab, but on Tuesday (March 16) clarified his statement.

Dr Bhaskaran added: “We are still offering first dose vaccine for the Group 6 and all rest of the cohorts who are eligible for Covid vaccination and would like people to take up the vaccine.

“We have had a few people not showing for their appointments which does affect our plans and takes that time and slot away from another person. We would like to request people please keep to their appointments.”

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The Bexhill vaccine programme is planning to visit care homes in the third week of March to offer second doses to all eligible residents.

Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett.


Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network (left) and some of the team. SUS-210130-115916001Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett.


Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network (left) and some of the team. SUS-210130-115916001
Covid-19 vaccination feature at Sidley Medical Practice. Pic Justin Lycett. Dr Binodh Bhaskaran, the clinical director of Bexhill Primary Care Network (left) and some of the team. SUS-210130-115916001

Bexhill’s Covid-19 vaccine programme is being carried out at the Sidley Medical Practice and will see all patients registered with Collington Surgery, Little Common Surgery, Pebsham Surgery; and Sidley Medical Practice being offered their jabs.

However, Dr Bhaskaran said the Primary Care Network will need to make a decision about how long they continue offering the vaccines, given the other priorities the four GP surgeries have in terms of routine care and enhanced care.

He said: “As a Primary Care Network we have to make realistic choices and decisions about how far we carry on with the vaccination programme.

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“We have to start concentrating on our main work offering more access to routine care and enhanced care especially diabetes, cancer, screening and monitoring of long term conditions.

“We will discuss with NHSE (East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust) and CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) about how we go about this and ensure processes are in place for all the rest of the groups to have their vaccinations. For the time being we will continue to vaccinate as many groups as we can.”

Patients have also been receiving jabs at mass vaccination centres in Eastbourne and Brighton.