From today, boosters are being offered to the people in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire who are at greatest risk from Covid-19. In the latest phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme a second booster will be offered to:
- everyone aged 75 and over,
- people who live in care homes for older people, and
- people aged 12 and over with a weakened immune system (see definition below).
People in these groups were offered their first booster six months ago and this additional booster will help protect from Covid-19 over the summer months and reduce their chances of needing hospital treatment if they do catch the virus. The best time to have the booster is six months after the previous booster and the NHS will invite you to be vaccinated.
Dr Geeta Iyer, Clinical Director for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire said: “We want to make sure that everyone who is at greatest risk from COVID infection is able to access the spring booster. Covid-19 is very active in our area at the moment and infection levels are high. Vaccination works and I’d like to encourage everyone who is eligible for a booster this spring to take up the invitation when they receive it to help protect them over the coming months.
“I’d also like to remind everyone that it’s not too late to come forward for your first, second or first booster doses. Information about all the ways you can have your COVID vaccinations in our area can be found at www.grabajab.net.”
How to have the booster
The NHS will contact people who are eligible for a booster to invite you to book an appointment using the online National Booking Service or by calling 119. GPs will also invite some people, or you can attend a walk-in clinic in our area. Please visit www.grabajab.net for information about all vaccination options in our area, including a list of walk-in clinics.
People who are housebound and managers of care homes for older people will be contacted to arrange a visit.
If you have had Covid-19, you should wait 4 weeks before having your booster. You should not attend a vaccine appointment if you are self-isolating or waiting for a Covid-19 test.
Covid-19 vaccination information for front line health and care staff is also available on the Healthier Together website.
Definition of weakened immune system
People aged 12 and over with a weakened immune system who are eligible for a booster include those with underlying health conditions such as chronic leukaemia or lymphoma, and those who have had immunosuppressive treatment following an organ transplant or have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
For more information please refer to the definition of ‘Immunosupessed’ in Table 3 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation Green Book.
There is more information on booster vaccinations on the NHS website.
An information leaflet on the spring booster vaccination is available to download.
