NHS COVID-19 vaccine programme spring boosters

Due to the logistics of delivery and characteristics of the vaccines, the service needs to be delivered at scale and on one site. The current model for delivery is through groups of Practices working together along with Community Staff, with Richardson Hospital, being the designated site for our patient population.

When invited, please arrive at Richardson Hospital, Barnard Castle, DL12 8HT the Victoria Road entrance 10 minutes prior to your appointment. Please telephone the Practice if you are unable to attend.

As vaccines become more widely available it is possible that more than one site could be possible.

The Practice is working very hard in the background to offer vaccinations collaboratively at short notice, so that the vaccine is delivered within its short shelf-life and while also making sure our patients receive it as soon as possible. Specifics around delivery of the service will depend on matching patient demand and vaccine availability.

Appointment management

The GP Practice will contact patients to book an appropriate time. Patient will be contacted to book their first and second appointment allowing for the appropriate gap between doses. Patients will need to receive the second dose from the same provider.

As mentioned before, due to logistics of delivery and the characteristics of the vaccine, the Practice will only be given a short timescales to contact patients and book appointments into these vaccination clinics. The Practice understands this may not always suit the patients, but due to the importance of this vaccine, we request higher compliance from patients. The dates of the Clinic will be released soon. Please continue to keep yourself updated via our website.

Receiving the vaccine

A registered healthcare professional will carry out the clinical assessment and consent. Wear loose clothing to allow quick access for vaccination in your left arm. Please note, the latest information on the vaccines require that patients do need to be observed following administration of the vaccine. There is a self-timed 15 minute wait onsite after receiving the vaccine and patients are also required not drive for 15 minutes after vaccination.

For more information on Spring COVID vaccination program please visit HERE

Many thanks for all the cooperation

Pinfold Medical Practice

COVID-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. Protection from the vaccine may be lower and may decline more quickly in these people. For this reason people aged 75 years and over, those in care homes and those aged 12 years and over with a weakened immune system are being offered the spring booster.

Although vaccines are expected to provide good protection against severe COVID-19 disease, protection against mild infection with the Omicron variant seems to decline quickly, even after the booster dose.

This spring booster is being offered as a precaution to those at extremely high risk, most of whom received their first booster around 6 months ago. If the number of infections increases over the summer, this booster should help to reduce your risk of being admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

The Spring COVID booster vaccinationwill be delivered to our patients in partnership with a group of neighbouring Practices, covering an area within our Primary Care Network footprints

Community Staff will again play a major role in this service, and will support the Program.

Eligibility

Eligible patients in line with the latest Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendationshave will be sent a link to book an appointment. Please make sure your medical records are updated with the right mobile number to enable the practice to efficiently send invites out  when you become eligible and a clinic becomes available.

Invitations are sent to :

• All over the age of 75 who have had the last booster on or before the 1st of February 2022
• Those who are immunodompromised who have had their fourth dose on or before 1st of February 2022
• Any 16 years or over who had their second dose on or before 1st of February 2022
• Anyone over the age of 18 who had their first dose on or before 1st of March 2022 can book their second dose
• Anyone who has changed their mind and want to get thier COVID vaccination for the first time.
• 5-11 year olds can book their first dose