A CHIEF pharmacist has denied there is a delay getting appointment letters for vaccines to the over 70s at the newly opened Stithians Vaccination Centre after a nurse posted an appeal on Facebook urging people to book a slot.

He has also stressed that people should wait to get a letter before attempting to book an appointment. 

It is after the unidentified person, who claimed to be a nurse, put out a 'shout out' to people living in Probus saying invitations for people over 70 to come and have their vaccines at the centre had been delayed in being sent out. The post has since been deleted.

Posting on the Probus page on Sunday they said: "I'm currently a nurse working at the vaccination centre at Stithians showground and have been given permission by the operations lead to put a shout-out to any over 70's who are awaiting their letter of invitation for the vaccine.

"There has been a delay in letters being sent out but, if you are keen to be vaccinated, please go onto the Covid vaccine booking app and book an appointment. In particular tomorrow has soooo many appointments available! You do not need to wait for your letter to book an appointment for this week as we are so underbooked. Hopefully I will see you there, take care."

Later that evening they added: "I am utterly overwhelmed by the response this post has had, every share has enabled so many people to get booked in! Thank you!!! So happy people are able to book in."

But Iain Davidson, Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trusts chief pharmacist said that there had been no delay in sending out the letters and thanked the staff for their efforts in setting the centre up.

“I am grateful to our incredible staff who are pulling out all the stops to get our county’s most vulnerable people, and our frontline staff, vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting people vaccinated is our way out of this pandemic.

“There is no delay sending the invitation letters, and the NHS is inviting everyone in the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) priority groups to receive their vaccination. We are vaccinating adults in care homes, and their carers; anyone aged 80 and older, and frontline health and care workers; anyone aged 75 and older; and anyone aged 70 and older, and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

“We have today opened our second vaccination centre at the Royal Cornwall Showground and, supported by the centre at Stithians Showground, it will help us protect tens of thousands of people a week once we’re operating at full capacity.

“Please continue to support the NHS by not calling your GP surgery, or arriving at a vaccination centre without an appointment. Please do not try and book an appointment until you have received your invitation.

“Please continue to remain vigilant, and keep washing your hands, wear a mask and follow social distancing and lockdown rules.”

Stithians Showground opened to the public last week promising that thousands more people will be offered the Covid-19 vaccine in Cornwall with the opening of a major new vaccination centre.

Read here: Major new vaccination centre opening in Cornwall will be able to see thousands

Anyone attending an appointment at the vaccine centre will be greeted by volunteers who will marshal car parks and register them when they arrive. The centre has been organised to allow for social distancing.

They will receive a health check and a pre-vaccination assessment before the vaccine, and then be observed for 15 minutes afterwards.

Those who requires extra support from a carer should have them attend the appointment but is asked this is kept to a maximum of one other person to maintain social distancing. Wheelchairs will be available for anyone who requires them, and disabled parking is available on site.

People attending their appointments should wear loose clothing to provide vaccinators easy access to the arm, and flat shoes.

Those attending are encouraged to ask someone, wherever possible, to drive them to and from the site. This will allow them to receive their jab and return to their day as quickly as possible, and will mean more people can be vaccinated at the centre.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout visit NHS Kernow’s dedicated Covid-19 vaccine page.

The centre adds to the sites already offered at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and through the 12 GP-led primary care networks.