Positive statistics revealed this week that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s vaccination programme was well above the national average, in relation to people aged between 70 and 74, 75 and 79.
With 56.8 percent of 70-74 year olds (National average: 35.2) and 92.9 percent of 75-79 year olds (National average: 82.6) having received their first dose.
The increased number of vaccinations has created some traffic problems around these centre’s though, as readers have reported to the Peterborough Telegraph.
On Thursday (February 4) the city’s latest vaccination site, operated by Halls the Chemist, opened at Napier Place in Orton Wistow.
The car park outside of the site only has 47 spaces and is often full due to also having to cater for the chemist, Tesco Express and nearby nursery, Orton Wistow Under Fives.
The opening of the centre has led to the car park being completely full with cars having to park on grass verges or just on the side on the road near to Napier Place.
In a tweet sent yesterday Ward Councillor Cllr Julie Howell said: “I’m being contacted by parents who can’t drop their children outside the pre-school in Napier Place as the car park is full.
“Please let me know if this is happening to you. We need a parking solution that works for everyone. As I feared, the parking at this site is inadequate.”
Cllr Howell also confirmed that the council was investigating the possibility of using the car park at the Business Park based in Lynchwood, close to the site, to ease pressure on the facilities.
An NHS Spokesperson said: “As part of a site submission to become a community pharmacy site, the site must submit site plans, photographs and detail on access, parking and transport.
“Workforce plans must also be submitted which include marshalling, patient flow and social distancing.
“A panel reviews all site applications and was satisfied with this site’s assurance.
This site is part a small shopping centre that has free parking spaces, good access and public transport.
Feedback has been that the site has been well-received by the public, but the NHS has arranged a meeting with the site so we can collectively consider all of the feedback received.
“This is the biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken by the NHS and it is natural for a programme of this scale to occasionally have some teething problems, but we are working hard to make the process as smooth as we can for local people coming in for their vaccinations.
“We are looking forward to more of the local community being invited for their vaccine as the programme is rolled out in the weeks and months ahead.”
Problems finding a space have also been reported at the city’s main vaccine hub at the Urgent Care Centre on Thorpe Road. Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust have said that in response they will be allocating the entire car park to patients only, in an attempt to improve access.
Mike Passfield, Operations Director for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s large scale vaccination centres said: “We’re aware that there have been some teething problems with parking at our centre in Peterborough and apologise for these.
“We’re grateful to the staff and managers at the Peterborough City Care Centre for allocating the entire car park adjacent to the Centre’s main entrance purely for members of the public from this week.
“We hope this will improve access to parking for people having vaccinations and those visiting other services at the site, and we will keep this under review.
“Nevertheless, we’re pleased to confirm that hundreds of people have accessed their life-saving vaccinations since the Centre opened and we look forward to vaccinating thousands more.
“Can we take this opportunity to encourage people not to arrive early for their vaccination, as appointments are staggered to avoid queues. Don’t worry if you’re slightly late, you’ll still get your jab.”
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Peterborough's Covid vaccine hub at the Urgent Care Centre on Thorpe Road. Photo: Midlands
