The Axminster Medical Practice is one of 100 or so practices nationwide to offer their patients vaccinations for COVID-19 this week.

The appointments have already been booked and patients informed

A statement on the practice website said wide-scale uptake and delivery of COVID vaccination was the only way that life could return to normal – but it was now happening!

The statement continued: "If we can all help each other out for just a few more months, this nightmare will begin to pass.

"We would be very grateful for your understanding during what is going to be a very challenging time for Axminster Medical Practice.

"We are expecting to be extremely stretched for the next few months, as a large proportion of our admin and clinical staff will be involved in vaccine delivery.

"We will still be open and available for those who need us, but please follow the usual advice to seek help appropriately from the right source at the right time."

GP practices are working in groups to set up local vaccination centres for their patients, which will open in phases over coming weeks.

The first phase of GP-led vaccination centres in Devon will see the opening of eight sites serving 49 of the county's practices, with Axminster coming under the Seaton Community Hospital site.

The eight locations in Devon's first wave of local vaccination centres will see nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff working alongside doctors to vaccinate people aged over 80 and care home workers, who have been identified as priority groups for a life-saving vaccination.

Staff and volunteers will be working hard to see 975 patients this week alone at Seaton Community Hospital, where rooms which were previously closed have been recommissioned to administer the Pfizer vaccine.

Local people are also being reminded they should not contact their practice or hospital to ask about an appointment – the NHS will contact you when it's your turn.

Patients have been advised that if they have a mild or self-limiting condition, they should find advice online at www.nhs.uk or speak to a pharmacist. This will allow those patients with more serious symptoms to speak to their GP faster.

The statement from Axminster Medical Practice also lists a number of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine:

IS IT SAFE?

The currently available Pfizer vaccine has been tested on over 44,000 test subjects without any serious adverse reactions.

BUT HASN'T IT BEEN RUSHED THROUGH?

It normally takes several years to develop a vaccine. Scientists have had to work collaboratively and rapidly to achieve the same amount of progress in a few months in order to make a safe and effective vaccine available as soon as possible.

Although clinical trials have been carried out more rapidly than they have for other vaccines, this has been achieved by conducting some of the steps in parallel rather than sequentially and vaccine safety has not been compromised.

The vaccine trials have been subject to all of the usual strict trial and regulatory requirements.

WHAT ABOUT ANAPHYLACTOID REACTIONS?

During the first week of the vaccine roll-out, two patients had anaphylactoid reactions (a milder form of anaphylaxis) following injection with the Pfizer vaccine. Both of these patients had pre-existing severe allergies and history of anaphylaxis and carried adrenaline pens. They have both made full recoveries.

As a result of this, patients who have a history of confirmed anaphylaxis to any food, medicine or substance are unable to have the Pfizer vaccine. It is likely that they will be offered one of the other vaccines when they are available.

There is no evidence to suggest that patients without this very specific history of severe allergic reaction would be at any risk from the Pfizer vaccine.

HOW DO I BOOK MY COVID VACCINATION?

The order in which we must vaccinate our population is very specific and therefore we will be contacting patients individually to offer them an appointment when they become eligible.

Please do not contact the surgery asking for the vaccination as we will be unable to facilitate this.

WHEN WILL I GET MY JAB?

The priority at the moment is to vaccinate over 80 year-olds, but we have very limited supply of the vaccine and do not know when we will receive our next batch.

Things will become clearer over the next few weeks but right now all we can say is that it will likely be a few months until we can offer the vaccination to younger patients, but we will do so as soon as we can.

HOW MANY DOSES ARE INVOLVED?

You need two injections spaced at least THREE weeks apart to provide protecting from COVID-19. It is essential that you return for the second jab as the first one will likely provide very little or no protection on its own.

DO I NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES ONCE I HAVE HAD A VACCINATION?

YES! At the moment you need to follow exactly the same rules as directed by the government whether you have had the vaccine or not. This includes isolation guidance if you develop COVID symptoms or are in contact with a symptomatic person.

CAN I HAVE THE VACCINATION IF I AM PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?

At the moment pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children are not able to have the Pfizer vaccine. This is purely precautionary whilst we wait for more evidence to emerge from many ongoing studies, and the advice may change.

You are also advised not to have the vaccination if you are trying to become pregnant, or think you are likely to become pregnant in the next three months.

WILL YOU BE GETTING THE ASTA/OXFORD VACCINE?

We will almost certainly be getting many more vaccines but they have to pass the strict guidelines of the MHRA first. The MHRA is an independent organisation that ensures that medications in the UK are safe to use.

The Pfizer vaccine is the first COVID vaccine to pass these stringent tests of safety and quality.

SHOULD I HAVE THE VACCINE IF I ALREADY HAD COVID-19?

Yes, at the moment there is no evidence to show that having COVID-19 gives you lasting immunity from re-infection, you should have the vaccination anyway.

If you have any further general questions, please feel free to comment on the Axminster Medical Practice website for a response.