The vaccine effort from the East Kennet Primary Care Network is staying ahead of the curve, thanks to surgery staff and an army of volunteers.

On Saturday around another 450 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine made its way into patients’ arms at the Kennet & Avon Medical Partnership.

The PCN says that by Sunday (February 14) it will have inoculated all of the area’s over -70s and the extremely clinically vulnerable.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Dr John Williams with medical staff Jane Galbraigh, Louise Smart and Helen Padfield join some of the councillors helping in the vaccine rollout: Cllr Ann Hogg, Cllr John Ford, Wiltshire Cllr Jerry Kunkler and Pewsey Cllr Curly Haskell at the Kennet and Av

According to the practice it was the first time they had given out the Astra Zeneca vaccine in Pewsey.

In two months, KAMP has vaccinated 96 per cent of the over 80s, 92 per cent of 75-79-year-olds, care home staff and residents and frontline health and social care workers. The clinic in Pewsey was aimed at over -70s and the extremely clinically vulnerable.

Dr John Williams of KAMP said: “Another amazing team effort to vaccinate over 450 more patients from across the Primary Care Network.

“With clinics at Pewsey and Ramsbury, we are close to reaching all of the first four priority groups by the target date.

“Our thanks to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly outside in the cold, those who donated cakes and of course our amazing staff who, yet again, gave up their precious weekends, in spite of the pressure to continue to deliver general practice across the network during the working week.”

Volunteers at the vaccine centres help marshal anyone coming in for their appointments, helping them with parking, directions and filling out a mandatory health questionnaire.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Ann Hogg and Jerry Kunkler volunteering Trevor PorterAnn Hogg and Jerry Kunkler volunteering Trevor Porter

Volunteer Cllr Jerry Kunkler said the process was like that of a well-oiled machine. “I think people are quite relieved once they’ve had it done and it gives them a bit more confidence. Over 60 people an hour were getting vaccinated, so three every three minutes,” he said. “We’re trying to get ourselves to the end of this nightmare.”

Pewsey man Colin McDermott said: “My time was 11.50am, I was seen on time, it was well organised and efficient, people were in and out very quickly.”

Cllr Kunkler added: “It was very well organised and I take my hat off to Ann, she did a really good job as the co-ordinator and we’ll be doing it again in a couple of weeks.”

Cllr Hogg, who has organised a team of 40 volunteers said: “The most important thing is that all the clinics and practices, they haven’t wasted any vaccines.“They’re doing an absolutely sterling job to ensure that the patients of the PCN are vaccinated as soon as possible.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to help in some small way to be able to allow the professional staff do their job and not worry about what’s going on outside.”

The East Kennet PCN is made up of the Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership (KAMP), Ramsbury and Wanborough, Old Schoolhouse Surgery, Great Bedwyn and the Sprays Surgery, Burbage.