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Ruth Rankine, director of the PCN Network at the NHS Confederation, responded to NHS England and NHS Improvement’s letter to general practice and CCGs about preparations for a COVID-19 vaccination programme 

“We are pleased that NHS England and NHS Improvement has recognised the critical role that primary care has to play in the roll-out of the new Covid vaccine, in particular the ability of general practice to operate at scale through primary care networks (PCNs).
 
“We need to see the detailed specification but are acutely conscious of the tight timescales practices and PCNs will have to consider and respond. This will be complex to plan and operationalise and we welcome the requirement for clinical commissioning groups to support primary care to meet the requirements set out.

"Delivery of a vaccination programme on this scale from scratch means business as usual is not feasible so public expectations will need to be managed at a national level."