Vaccine no shows disappoint North East GPspublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 4 May 2021
More than 100 people failed to show up for their coronavirus vaccination in Darlington in just one day, it has emerged.
In total 129 people failed to arrive for their second dose on Sunday at a centre managed by the Darlington Primary Care Network.
The clinic only had three days to use the Pfizer vaccine once it was delivered, so it meant GPs had to contact people on the waiting list to ensure the vaccinations were not wasted.
There have also been a number of no shows across Northumberland.
In one case, an appointment wasn't kept because the person said "the weather is nice and I'm off to the beach".
Jane Lothian from the Northumberland Local Medial Committee, which represents GPs in the county, said: "It's disappointing for all my colleagues in primary care who have been working night and day literally to deliver this vaccine programme.
"Over the last few weeks since we've moved to calling in younger people.
"There's been a small but significant number of people just not turning up when they had their vaccine appointments. With the Pfizer vaccines it obviously has a very short shelf life so if people are booked in and they don't turn up then potentially the vaccine is wasted."