The COVID-19 Booster and Flu Vaccination 

This page has been designed with our Patient Board to try and provide you with information for the COVID-19 Booster vaccination and Flu vaccine.  We hope you find it useful. 

If you have not yet had your flu vaccine please call us on
0117 962 3406 to make an appointment.

The Flu Vaccine 

This vaccination programme will continue throughout December and beyond until we have vaccinated as many patients as we can. We know that you can have your flu vaccine elsewhere within the community, for example, at your local pharmacy.  However, where possible we would kindly request that you support us, as your local GP Practice, by having your flu vaccine at one of our clinics.  

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine has been offered to the following people in stages:

  • all children aged 2 to 15 (but not 16 years or older) 
  • those aged 6 months to under 50 years in clinical risk groups
  • pregnant women
  • those aged 50 years and over
  • those in long-stay residential care homes
  • carers 
  • close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline health and social care staff employed by a registered residential care/nursing home, registered domiciliary care provider, a voluntary hospice provider, Direct Payment and/or Personal Health Budgets. 
  • You can find out more about the flu vaccine and why it's important here. 

We will offer patients the COVID-19 booster at the same time as their flu vaccine wherever possible.  We cannot offer the booster unless it has been 3 months since your second Covid-19 vaccine dose. 

The COVID-19 Vaccine and those severly immunosuppressed aged 12+

The JCVI has advised that people with severely weakened immune systems should have a third COVID-19 vaccine dose. This is separate to any potential COVID-19 booster vaccination. There are national recommendations as to who is considered eligible for the third vaccine and General Practices are working with Hospital Specialists locally to identify those who should receive this. There is no need contact the NHS. If you or your child is eligible for vaccination, you will be contacted. 

For more infromation see JCVI advice on third dose vaccination for severely immunosuppressed. 

 

The COVID-19 Booster Vaccination

We are offering the COVID- 19 booster at the same time as the flu vaccination wherever possible (only if it has been 3 months since the last covid vaccine). We are in the process of actively inviting all registered patients who are aged 18 and above in for their booster.  

Please be aware we can only offer the vaccine to our registered patients at this time.  If you are not registered with us as a patient we are not in a position to offer you the vaccine at thist time.  This includes students who may be home for the festive season.  If you are not a registered patient with us please call 119 or go to your nearest walk-in-centre for the booster vaccine. 

 

The COVID-19 Vaccination Pass

From the 2nd of August 2021 all people in England, Scotland and Wales, who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status.  A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine.  Vaccine status will be available from:

Westbury-on-Trym Primary Care Centre is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status

It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified before you can use this service.  If you cannot access the online services, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119.  Only call 119 if you are due to travel abroad in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago.  It will take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.  

If you are planning to travel, check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website.  Make sure there is time to get proof of your vaccination status before you leave. 

If you are experiencing difficulties with the NHS APP please look at their website for help and support.  

Beware of COVID Pass fraud.  Criminals are using the NHS COVID Pass as a way to target the public by convincing them to hand over money, financial details and personal information. The NHS COVID Pass is available to demonstrate your COVID-19 status either in a digital or paper format via the NHS App, the NHS website or by calling 119. 

It is FREE and you will never be charged. 

 

If you haven't had your COVID-19 Vaccine yet and you would like it: 

If you are 18 years of age or older and have not yet received your first vaccination please phone 119 and they will be able to help you make an appointment at a Vaccination Centre.  You can also go to grabajab.net to find your nearest walk-in-centre. You can also contact us for an appointment. 

 We have tried to answer some of your questions below.  Please be aware that we are not able to book appointments with clinicians to answer individual queries. 

I've heard there are concerns around Astra Zeneca and blood clots?

Recently, there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination.  Although this condition remains extremely rare, there appears to be a higher risk shortly after the first dose of the Astra Zeneca (AZ) vaccine. 

Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AZ vaccine doses given.  This is seen slightly more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 2 weeks following vaccination.  This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear.

This condition can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection.  An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored.

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI), we will be offering people under 40 who have not yet had their first COVID-19 vaccination, a choice of vaccine other than AZ.  If you choose to have an alternative vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you. 

If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering a blood clot as a side effect, you should have your second dose.  This includes people aged 18-29 years who are health and social care workers and unpaid carers.

The benefits of the AZ vaccine outweigh any risks for the vast majority of people and you should still book your COVID-19 vaccine when we contact you.  Please do not contact us requesting the vaccine.

Which vaccine is being offered for the COVID-19 booster?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are being offerd as the Bosoter vaccine at this time.  If you received Astra Zeneca for your first two doses, don't worry, you can still have Pfizer/Moderna as your booster vaccine. Astra Zeneca is not being offered as a booster dose at this time nationally.  Please note that you will not be provided with a choice of vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), you will be vaccinated with the stock that has been provided to us nationally in that week and this can vary. From the 22nd of November it is more likely that you will recevie Moderna. 

Why am I being offered a booster?

Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to wane over time.  This booster dose will help extend the protection you gained from your first 2 doses and give you longer term protection.  The booster will help reduce the risk of you needing admission to hospital due to COVID-19 infection this winter. 

What are the common side effects to the booster vaccine?

As with your previous dose the common side effects are the same for all COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK, and include:

  • having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection.  This tends to be worst around 1 to 2 days after the vaccine
  • feeing tired
  • headache
  • general aches, or mild flu like symptoms

You can rest and take paracetemol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make yourself feel better.  Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for 2 to 3 days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.  Although a fever can occur within a day or 2 ot vaccination, if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a PCR test.  Symptoms following vaccination normally last less than a week.  If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerend, you can call NHS 111. 

Is there anyone who shouldn't have a booster?

There are very few people who should not have a booster.  If you have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine you should contact us to discuss this. 

Can you still cacth COVID-19 after having had the vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease.  It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster.  Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective - some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vacciantion, but this should be less severe. 

I have a question about the COVID vaccine - what should I do?

There is lots of information available online.  You can also try the nhs website and healthiertogether. We are not able to offer individuals appointements with clinicians to discuss the vaccine.  However, if you cannot find the answer to your question please contact us via e-consultation or e-mail and we will do our best to answer any querries you have.  

Published: Dec 13, 2021