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COVID-19 Vaccine Update No 36

Update No 36 24th October 2021 Partner briefing: 22 October 2021

The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is progressing and there are several key areas where support from partners would be appreciated. This include:

• Booster vaccinations

• Half term promotion to 12- to 15-year-olds and 16- and 17-year-olds

• Vaccinations for those who are immunosuppressed

Booster vaccinations

COVID-19 boosters - are you due yours?

This autumn, everyone aged 50 and over and people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk of COVID-19, is being offered a booster jab. If you are in these groups, you will be eligible when you reach six months or 182 days from the date of your second vaccine.

Clinics and walk in sessions are already underway and thousands of people have already received this vital protection ahead of winter. If you are eligible, there are four ways you may be contacted, or you can arrange your vaccine.

  1. You will be invited by the National Booking System (NBS) to use the national website or 119 to book after six months (by letter, email or text).
  2. You will be contacted by your local team to book an appointment directly or to invite you to use the NBS (by letter, email or text).
  3. Come to a walk-in session when you reach six months (182 days).
  4. You can try the NBS after 190 days (six months and a week) from your 2nd vaccine without an invite.

Please do not call your GP practice. In many cases they are working with joint teams to run local services and are not directly responsible.

If you need to know more or have questions, there is lots of information on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website: Autumn boosters (Phase 3) - Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk)

If you prefer to speak to someone, please call the Vaccine Enquiry Line for Sussex on 0800 433 4545 (open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).

Social media

COVID-19 boosters are underway. You will be invited directly to the local service if you are in one of the eligible groups and you have reached six months since your second vaccine. Boost your immunity this autumn. COVID-19 Vaccine Update No 36 Patrick Brady 2 Eligible for our COVID booster? You can use the National Booking System when you have reached six months and a week from the date of your second vaccination. You can use the website or call 119: Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

COVID boosters for our patients are being delivered at . You will be invited directly to the local service if you are in one of the eligible groups and you have reached six months since your second vaccine. Boost your immunity this autumn. 

Half term promotion to 12- to 15-year-olds and 16- and 17-year-olds

16- and 17-year-olds can use the National Booking System website or 119 to book an appointment this half term. They can also go to any walk-in service to get their vaccine. They are still currently only eligible for one vaccine. Appointments for 12- to 15-year-olds can also now be booked through the National Booking System website or 119. This is in addition to the school visits, and specific follow up sessions being arranged by the school's immunisation team over the half term for schools they have already visited. More information is available on our website, including updated FAQs and details of a text number for 12 to 15 year olds: Vaccinations for children and young people aged 12 to 17 - Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk)

Video explaining how 12-15-year-olds can get their vaccine: https://youtu.be/MwKzNOiIOYs

If further social media materials would be helpful, please let us know: sxccg.comms@nhs.net

Vaccinations for those who are immunosuppressed

It has now been agreed that people who are entitled to a third dose because they are immunosuppressed can use the walk-in sessions in Sussex.

They just need to take the letter inviting them for the third dose to the walk in session.

The national team has sent out thousands of letters this week to people in this group. We do know that this has caused some questions from some people as they didn't think they were eligible - in these cases please encourage people to speak to their GP or consultant for clarity. If they are still concerned, please direct them to the Vaccine Enquiry Line.

More information is here: 3rd dose for people who are immunosuppressed - Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk) NHS calls for people to get vaccinated as COVID-19 cases rise

With a rise in COVID cases this week, the NHS is making it as easy as possible for people to get a vaccination. Whether, it is a first, second, third or booster vaccine, there are appointments available across services this week, and walk in sessions every single day. At walk in sessions, you don't need an appointment, you can simply turn up and receive your vaccine.

• First and second doses (after 8 weeks) are available for everyone aged 16 or over. Book online or find a walk-in session.

• Covid boosters are available for people aged 50 and over, health & social care workers and those with underlying health conditions where it's been 6 months since your 2nd jab. If it's been 182 days since your second dose you can book online or attend a walk-in session or one of the pop up clinics.

• Vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds are being organised through schools or from Saturday 23 October you can also book online. Find out more about vaccines and consent for 12-15-year-olds.

• Flu vaccines are also free for many people. See who's eligible and how to book. Many people are eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 booster vaccines. If you are offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time.

COVID-19 vaccination bookings opening online for 12-15- year-olds

Parents will be able to book covid-19 vaccinations online for their 12-15-yearold children from the end of today (Friday) with appointments available as soon as tomorrow. People will be able to go online and check the National Booking Service for local appointments for children and young people.

The booking service provides an additional option for parents to book a vaccine for their child, alongside the schools programme which has already vaccinated nearly half a million young people and visited thousands of schools.

If a child has already been invited through their school, they do not need act on their invite unless parents wish to get their child vaccinated outside of school. The move is an expansion of the existing programme, providing parents with an extra option, as the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in health history continues to protect people against the virus.

Parents and guardians will be advised to attend vaccination sites with their children if they want them to get jabbed outside of school hours and consent will be sought on the day. Parents and young people are being asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment. This can also be accessed online.

To date more than 54 schools in Sussex have been visited, and more than 9000 12-15-year-olds have been vaccinated.

More than 3,000 care home residents protected with COVID-19 booster

One in five care home residents across Sussex are now protected with their booster ahead of winter. 20.9% of all residents living in care homes have had their booster after visits over the last three weeks. More than 37% have also had their flu vaccination, making sure they have boosted their immunity ready for the winter months.GP led teams are visiting care homes across our communities, supported in places by community teams.

Sussex teams up to answer questions from Gypsies and Travellers

We have worked with Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) to share the questions from Gypsy and Traveller people about the coronavirus vaccine. They recognised that there were a number of questions from the community, and we wanted to make sure that these were being addressed and answered. Working with FFT, Brighton & Hove City Council, and Arch Healthcare, the questions were put to GP Tim Worthley at Arch Healthcare.

We believe that everyone in society should have fair access to a COVID-19 vaccine when they're entitled to one, and everyone should have the opportunity to remain up to date and informed on relevant information about the vaccine.

New website launched to engage young people on the vaccine

A new website has been set up to engage young people about the vaccine and answer their questions www.everythingcovid.info also covers information about testing and aims to be a one stop shop for young people. All of the content has been produced by young people with facts signed off by NHS England.

We will be sharing the site and using the materials widely across our channels over the coming weeks to help provide useful information to young people.

In the news this week...

This week we have been working closely with the media to promote the vaccination programme and encourage people to receive their vaccines this autumn. First, Good Morning Britain filmed live from The Meads in Uckfield to talk about the booster roll out and why it is important for people to come forward

This was followed by coverage on BBC Southeast, BBC South Today, BBC Radio Sussex and local newspapers. Thanks to all the teams involved.

If you have any questions, concerns, comments or suggestions please contact Patrick Brady - Email plb11@btinternet.com Mobile 07977 50643

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