The Prime Minister has issued a call to arms ahead of winter, urging everyone over 50 to get their booster jabs when they get the call.
The booster programme is well underway with over four million booster doses already administered. The National Booking Service has had its busiest week of booster bookings, with nearly half a million jabs booked over Wednesday and Thursday alone.
The vaccination booster programme is now underway across Norfolk and Waveney with a third Covid 19 vaccine being offered to eligible patient groups in line with national guidance.
Priority for third doses is being given to those who are immunosuppressed or identified on patient records as being Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, as these patients are less likely to have retained anti-bodies from their first vaccines. Hospital consultants and local GPs are working closely together to ensure that these very vulnerable patients are contacted as soon as possible to make an appointment for their third vaccine.
There are a number of very vulnerable patients who are understandably very keen to get their third vaccine, not only for the additional protection, but also for their peace of mind. Please be assured that the local NHS services are working as fast as they can to make sure those most at risk of Covid-19 are contacted first. This means drawing on both hospital patient lists and GP patient lists. This work is ongoing, and patients should be hearing from the local NHS in the coming days and weeks to get booked in.
The phenomenal national effort seen during the first phase of the vaccination programme has already saved around 130,000 lives, with almost 95 million doses delivered across the UK.
As set out in the autumn and winter plan, the winter months will lead to the increased transmission of viruses. Vaccines are our best line of defence but data shows that the natural immunity provided by vaccines will wane over time, particularly for older adults and those more at risk from Covid. Recent studies suggest protection against death falls from 95% to 80% for AstraZeneca after six months, and from 99% to 90% for Pfizer.
The booster programme is designed to top up this waning immunity for those most at risk over the winter months. A 15% drop in efficacy could lead to many more avoidable deaths and cases of severe illness from Covid. Early results from Pfizer shows that a booster dose can increase the protection from our vaccines back up to 95.6% against symptomatic infection. This additional protection is vital, and everyone aged over 50 or who is at high risk from Covid will be invited for their booster jab six months after their second dose.
Getting your booster dose will also help the NHS during the already challenging autumn and winter period. The second phase of the government’s national campaign launched today, encouraging people to get their Covid and flu jabs as soon as possible.
This continues to be the largest and most complex vaccination programme the NHS has ever delivered, but everyone eligible who needs a third dose will get one.
The following groups are among the first eligible patients for a booster vaccine:
- people aged 50 and over
- people who live and work in care homes
- frontline health and social care workers
- people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from Covid 19
- carers aged 16 and over
- people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
The NHS is contacting all eligible patients within these groups to invite them to make an appointment for a booster. Once contacted you can either go to your GP if invited or make an appointment for a COVID-19 booster via the National Booking Service if you are eligible within the groups listed above. If you have been invited for a booster, you can book online here: www.nhs.uk/book-or-manage-a-booster-dose-of-the-coronavirus-Covid 19-vaccine
It is vital that anyone eligible for a booster waits to be contacted to make an appointment.
The national booking system is now open and able to take bookings from eligible people (see below).
Please do not telephone us asking when you will get your booster – you will be contacted when it’s your turn.
If you are eligible for a booster, please do not attend any existing walk-in vaccination clinics. These are still focused on vaccinating remaining people with first and second doses and cannot currently provide third (booster) jabs.
ooking a COVID-19 booster vaccination
Eligible patients can book a booster vaccine six months after their second dose via the NHS national booking service online at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or telephone 119 (free), between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us to prioritise home visits for our disabled and most vulnerable patients.
Information and support for housebound patients who may be able to travel to a vaccination site for their COVID-19 booster
If you are able to attend a local vaccination centre, please book your vaccine through the NHS national booking service online at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or telephone 119 (free), between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
For patients who are unable to find support through family or friends, please see below options for community transport to your appointment:
Norfolk community transport information:
Support from Caring Together is available for carers and the people they look after to attend booster vaccination appointments. Norfolk patients can access this support by:
• Calling Caring Together on 0345 241 0954
• Emailing [email protected]
• Completing the online form here: https://www.caringtogether.org/coronavirus-covid-19/support-for-carers-to-attend-covid-19-vaccinations
Common questions and answers provided by Norfolk and Waveney NHS:
Is there anyone that shouldn’t have the COVID-19 booster vaccine?
There are very few people in the eligible groups who should not have a booster. If you have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine you should discuss this with your doctor.
If I’m eligible, when and where can I get my vaccination?
The JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than six months after having the second dose of the vaccination. The NHS will let eligible people know to have their booster vaccine when it is their turn.
Like the previous doses, the vaccine will be given in your upper arm. People will be offered the vaccine through a range of services. You may be invited to get a booster through a GP-led service and/or be contacted by the NHS to book an appointment at a designated pharmacy, vaccination centre or GP-led service through the national COVID-19 vaccination booking service (NBS).
When and how will health and care staff get a COVID-19 booster?
Primary care teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents. Health and social care staff will be directed to book their appointments through their employers.
Why aren’t most younger people being offered a COVID-19 booster?
As most younger adults will only have received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose in late summer or early autumn, the benefits of booster vaccination in this group will be considered at a later time when more information is available. In general, younger, healthy individuals may be expected to generate stronger vaccine-induced immune responses from primary course vaccination compared to older individuals.
What type of vaccine will the COVID-19 booster be? What if it’s different to the one I have had?
After reviewing data on booster responses from different combinations of COVID-19 vaccines, JCVI advises a preference for mRNA vaccines eg. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna irrespective of which type of vaccine was used for the first and second doses.
There is good evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is well tolerated as a booster dose and will provide a strong booster response. Alternatively, individuals may be offered a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, which should be well tolerated and is also likely to provide a strong booster response. A half dose of Moderna vaccine is advised over a full dose due to the levels of reactogenicity (side effects) seen following boosting with a full dose in clinical trials.
Where mRNA vaccines cannot be offered e.g. due to contraindication, vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine may be considered for those who received AstraZeneca vaccine in the primary course.
Can you still catch COVID-19 after having the vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective – some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
Can I have the COVID-19 booster if I haven’t completed the first vaccination course?
No, you need to finish the first course of your vaccination.
Can I get the flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine at the same time?
The COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccine can be given on the same day and for people that are eligible for both, there may be opportunities to have both together. We would encourage you to get your vaccinations as soon as possible and get fully protected rather than waiting as it may not always be possible to get them together.
I haven’t yet had the COVID-19 vaccination, can I still get my first jabs?
Everyone that is eligible that hasn’t already had their first or second COVID-19 vaccination can still get vaccinated.
Everyone aged 18 and over can book their initial COVID-19 vaccinations through the NHS booking service (call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week).
Anyone aged 16 and over can attend a walk in clinic that is offering the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine - see the full list of available clinics here: https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/WalkIn/Form/AllAvailableClinics
Can I get the COVID-19 booster if I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant and in one of the groups that the JCVI has recommended for the boosters, you are eligible to receive a booster, no earlier than six months after completion of the first course of vaccination. The NHS will contact you when it is your turn.
