Autumn Covid Booster Programme

Press release from the Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC The Autumn Covid booster programme starts in the week beginning 5 September with care home residents among the first to get jabs.

The NHS will invite other eligible groups to book appointments for 12 September onwards. Please wait to be contacted. https://www.england.nhs.uk/.../nhs-to-roll-out-variant.../

Autumn booster eligibility: - older adult care home residents & staff - frontline health & social care workers - aged 50 and over - aged 5-49 in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women - household contacts of the immunosuppressed aged 5-49 - unpaid carers aged 16-49

Message from Carnon Downs Surgery:

VACCINATION CLINIC INFO for 2022- BOOKING WILL OPEN WHEN WE HAVE CONFIRMED DATES FOR DELIVERY

During the 2022 Influenza vaccination campaign we will be administering flu along with the autumn covid booster to all patients entitled to receive protection.

Eligible from 1st September 2022

• Aged 2 and 3 years old

• Aged 65 years and over

• Aged 6 months to under 65 years old in clinical risk groups (as defined below)

• Care home residents

• Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

• Frontline health and social care workers (proof of employment required)

• Pregnant women

• Others deemed at risk based on clinical judgement

Eligible from 15th October 2022

• Aged 50 to 64 years not in clinical risk groups (including those who turn 50 by 31 March 2023)

Flu vaccine for people with long-term health conditions

The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:

• respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis

• diabetes

• heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure

• being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above

• chronic kidney disease

• liver disease, such as hepatitis

• neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy

• a learning disability

• problems with your spleen, for example, sickle cell disease, or if you have had your spleen removed

• a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

Please note we will be administering these vaccinations together during our weekend clinics being held HERE on the following Saturdays throughout the autumn and some Friday afternoons as detailed below.

OVER 75 yrs of age ONLY - Sat 1st Oct - starting at 8.30am - 3.30pm

OVER 65 yrs of age ONLY - Sat 15th Oct and Sat 22nd Oct - starting at 8.30am - 3.30pm

PATIENTS AT RISK and all OVER 50yrs of age but UNDER 65 yrs of age - Friday 21 October from 2.00pm

PATIENTS AT RISK and all OVER 50yrs of age but UNDER 65 yrs of age Sat 5th and 19th November from 8.30am - 12 noon

Extra clinics will be advertised if capacity is exceeded or supplies change from the NHS.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If you do not wish to have both vaccines together you will unfortunately have to be placed on the waiting list to receive the covid vaccination at the end of the campaign, this is likely to be around mid to late November.

The COVID jab does not protect against flu so it is vital to have both vaccinations to reduce your chances of becoming unwell and needing hospital treatment. Getting vaccinated helps you and the NHS, which is already facing extreme pressures in the run up to the very busy winter season. So we encourage all patients to have both vaccines on the same day.

Can I have both the booster and flu vaccines at the same time?

It is safe to have the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccinations at the same time and this would involve having two separate jabs.

The nurses and GPs are now focusing on their very busy workloads during the week, but we are also continuing to offer Covid-19 vaccinations in addition to the annual flu vaccinations during the weekends so by allowing patients to come twice this would extend our capacity into months rather than weeks. Therefore we will deliver the flu vaccine here and if you choose not to have both vaccines together you can call 119 and arrange elsewhere or wait until the end of our campaign.

If you have recently had the Shingles vaccine you must wait one week before having your Covid-19 booster.

Local National Covid-19 vaccine centres (Helston) are not offering the flu vaccination (tbc). If you have your booster there you will need to book in for your flu jab elsewhere.

• Please do not arrive too early to your appointment and do not attend with another person unless they are a carer.

• Please wear appropriate clothing so that you are ready for your vaccination.

WHEN WE HAVE CONFIRMED DELIVERY DATES WE WILL CONTACT YOU.

How to book?

We will be sending text messages and emails with a link for you to book directly into one of our clinics. If you receive a link enter your date of birth and then use the drop down menu to choose a week where we have clinics available. This may mean you clicking through two or three different dates. Then choose the day, then the time and click OK. You can also book at the desk when you collect your medication.

Information from Chacewater & Devoran Surgery: