Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023

People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine this spring.

A Guide to the Covid-19 Spring Booster 2023

Changes to COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

After 12 February 2023, you will not be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.

Some people at increased risk, for example, because of age or certain medical conditions, may be offered a seasonal booster later this year. If you are eligible for this, the NHS will contact you when it’s your turn to get vaccinated.

If you have not had a 1st or 2nd dose of COVID vaccine and are eligible you can still do so at any time at a Walk-in COVID vaccination clinic :-

How to get a 1st and 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine

If you are aged 5 or over and had a severely weakened immune system when you had your first 2 doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, you may be offered an additional primary dose (3rd dose) before any booster doses:-

How to get an additional primary course of COVID-19 vaccine

Find a Walk-in COVID Vaccination Site or visit The Vaccinators

Tell the NHS about Covid-19 Vaccinations you have had abroad

This service enables you to book an appointment to show evidence for any coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you've had outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your vaccination record.

Children aged 5 and above with an NHS number who have had 1 or more COVID-19 vaccinations outside of England can now have them recorded in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS). 

Appointments can be booked on the National Booking Service to show evidence of their vaccinations.

An updated list of approved vaccines can be found on the booking page.

How to access your COVID-19 vaccination status

From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from: 

  • the NHS App which you can download from app stores 

  • the NHS website 

  • 119 - by requesting a paper letter

You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.

If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take up to 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.

29 July 2022 Update: Parents or guardians of children aged 5-11 years can now obtain a digital NHS COVID Pass

Parents and guardians can now request a digital NHS COVID Pass for travel  for children aged 5 to 11. This provides a record of the child’s vaccinations and proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days.  Travel letters for 5-11 year olds who have received a full primary course of a COVID-19 vaccination, as well as recovery letters showing proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days for this age group, are already available.

Digital passes can be requested by parents or legal guardians via the NHS website. They will need to have access to either the mobile phone number or email address on the child’s GP record as it is not available via GP practices. Further details can be found on the GOV.UK guidance pages.

 

Covid-19 Vaccination - Guidance for Women of Childbearing Age, Currently Pregnant or Breast Feeding

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as people of the same age or risk group.  The COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK have been shown to be effective and to have a good safety profile. These vaccines do not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb.

If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, read the latest guidance from Public Health England (April 2021).

Covid-19 Vaccination In Pregnancy.pdf

Covid-19 Vaccination and Severe Mental Illness

If you are an adult living with a severe mental illness in England you should now be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination.  You could also be eligible if you care for someone with a severe mental illness.

The Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective.  It is being offered to priority groups first, before being offered to all adults in the UK whether they are in a priority group or not.  Working age people (aged 16-64) with severe mental illness are included in Priorty Group 6 and also includes those with learning disabilities.  Equally Well UK have produced a guide for people with severe mental illness and their carers on what to expect from the Covid-19 vaccination programme. 

New videos to support people with severe mental illness get their COVID19 vaccine and advice for primary care professionals that support people with SMI are now available here: https://bit.ly/3fM24KF

Covid-19 Vaccination and Severe Mental Illness.pdf

The Vaccinators

From eligibility to vaccination updates, get the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccines and routine flu jabs from

 www.thevaccinators.co.uk, the site is updated daily with latest information.