'Fantastic' news as all care homes in Portsmouth offered Covid jabs

The city council's leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, confirmed that staff and residents in every nursing and residential home in the city has either received the potentially life-saving jabs, or are booked in to have theirs after coronavirus outbreaks led to delays.

And some carers working in homes have already received their second doses.

Speaking to The News, Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: 'In the first wave the number of people who died in care homes was appalling and one of the lessons that's been learned is that we have to protect people in care homes.

'People there are so vulnerable and it's so easy for infections to spread so I'm really pleased that both people who work in care homes and residents have been vaccinated.

'I hope that because of the number of people vaccinated in homes the effects of the virus will be felt much less.'

It comes after various carers told The News of their 'relief' after receiving the vaccine this month, saying it felt like they could see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.

Most staff were offered vaccines at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham while GP practices administered doses to residents in their homes.

The most recent figures from the Care Quality Commission showed an increase in Covid deaths in care homes in the area as there were 57 deaths in the Hampshire County Council area between January 9 and 15.

And in that time there were four in Portsmouth.

SEE ALSO: Covid deaths in Hampshire care homes almost double in a week

This was a significant jump compared to the eight days previously when there was a total of 36 across the whole of Hampshire.

Roger Batterbury, from Healthwatch Portsmouth, believed the city had worked hard to protect the city's vulnerable.

He said: 'It is fantastic news. When you look around the country that are some areas that have struggled with the rollout but it is great news that we have managed to protect the very very vulnerable and also the staff who have been working so hard.

'It is tinged with sadness as there has been some outbreaks in homes and deaths as well but hopefully this will help prevent that and protect people.'

As reported it is planned a mass vaccine centre is due to open in St James' Hospital in Milton soon although a date has not yet been confirmed.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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