Get boosted and get protected this Autumn

NHS colleagues across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are encouraging people to come forward for their COVID-19 Booster and flu vaccination.

Community pharmacies, some local GP practices, large vaccination centres and outreach teams have been working tirelessly to vaccinate those who are eligible.  Clinics have been planned to ensure that everyone that needs one, can get vaccinated.

Craig Lister, COVID immunisation and vaccination strategy lead at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership said:

“It is really important that those who are eligible and have been invited to get their vaccination, get booked in.

“All of our colleagues who have been working since the start of this campaign have gone above and beyond and their continuous effort has ensured this programme has and continues to deliver vaccinations to those who need it.”

Nicky Poulain Chief Primary Care Officer said:

“Each of our community pharmacists, participating practices and outreach teams across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have planned their clinics accordingly for local patients to get vaccinated and as quickly as possible.

“Vaccinations are being delivered by hard working and experienced staff, many of whom are working at weekends.  If you are invited to come forward, please book your appointment and attend no more than ten minutes before your appointment.”

To help the NHS help you, please follow the advice below.

• We would like to remind people who have made booked appointments to attend these on time and to arrive no more ten minutes before your appointment.  If people attend earlier than this, it can lead to queuing, delays and traffic congestion at vaccination sites. If you arrive early for your appointment, please wait in your car.
• Wrap up well – As the weather is changing, please consider this before leaving.  Thin layers (with short sleeves as your base layer) of clothing are recommended.
• Please don’t turn up requesting a vaccine without an appointment.  All vaccines are allocated to people in priority groups with pre-booked appointments and anyone attending without an appointment will be asked to leave

Housebound people

Housebound residents will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine within their own home or place of residence.  A special ‘roving team’ of vaccinators is delivering the service to housebound residents.

Those who are housebound will have been identified by their GP practice and will be contacted in due course to ensure they are vaccinated. If you have not been contacted by 1^st December, please contact your GP practice.

Over 380,000 people across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes will be eligible for an autumn booster in line with guidance set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

For those people that are eligible, there may be opportunities to get both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster at the same time, and it is perfectly safe to do so. This includes:

• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers
• all adults aged 50 years and over
• persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book – this includes pregnant women
• persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book

The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine – you do not need to contact the NHS.  We urge all those invited for both a flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine to take up the offer as quickly as possible – it will give you maximum protection this winter. To book your COVID-19 booster visit: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk)