Derbyshire medical centre 'stands by decision' to give Chesterfield FC players and staff Covid-19 jab

A ‘small number’ of players and staff - most of whom are classed as ‘vulnerable’ people - have received the jab at Stubley Medical Centre in Dronfield, it has emerged.

But this only happened after the medical centre had ‘exhausted all other viable options’ and so the vaccine did not go to waste.

The NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group has launched an investigation and said it is ‘unacceptable to jump the queue ahead of people most at risk’ - an allegation the club strongly denies.

Since the news broke in the national media, Stubley Medical Centre’s practice manager has received ‘personal threats’.

The centre said it is ‘justifiably proud of our performance since the start of the vaccination campaign’ and that it has ‘not thrown a single dose away at our site’.

In a statement the medical centre said: “At the end of every busy vaccination clinic, as is the case elsewhere, it is often the case that we have a small number of vaccines drawn up that we are very reluctant to throw away.

“We have a list of possible recipients ready to call. This is a wide range of patients, starting with the existing target groups and listed in clinical priority.

“A further group are at increased risk but may not fall into the current target groups, they are there because they have made reasoned representations to us to be considered as reserves.

“This final group of patients are a last resort before the vaccine would have to be thrown away, and they need to be able to respond instantly if called.”

The statement adds: “Within this final group of grateful recipients are, we believe a small number of employees from Chesterfield Football Club, with whom we have been working on plans for a convenient drive-through vaccination service at the Technique Stadium. We were asked if the possible recipients, who had existing conditions with consultant letters requesting their vaccination, could go on our reserve list. One, who lived close to the surgery, attended without such correspondence at the very end of a vaccine clinic and a decision was taken to use the vaccine rather than throw it away. We stand by this decision.”

The medical centre said the practice manager who has been abused has volunteered her time to work seven days a week since the middle of December.

“As a direct result of an inconsequential story being reported, she has been the subject of some inappropriate abuse,” the Stubley statement added.

“To be victim of personal threats despite doing such an amazing job should bring shame on the perpetrators and on those elements of the media who seem ready to ignore the big success stories and instead focus on any ill researched gossip they can find, for the sake of petty mud-slinging.

“We are currently already working on the challenging project of arranging patients second doses (due to start in a months time) and it is our request that we are spared these unpleasant and petty distractions and allowed to get on with it.”