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 upcoming COVID-19 Booster vaccination and Flu vaccine.  We hope you find it useful. 

 

The Flu Vaccine 

Our first flu vaccination clinics for 2021/22 will take place in September 2021.  This vaccination programme will continue throughout October 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.  We are now inviting those aged 65 and over to make an appointment for their flu vaccination. If you are aged 65 or over you can now call us on 0117 9623406 to make an appointment or book online. 

If you are under the age of 65 we are looking to hold clinics in November. We had hoped to be able to offer the vaccine to you sooner but those under the age of 65 require a different vccine and deliveries of this vaccines are not expected before November at this time. We have received a very small, interim delivery, of less than 100 vaccines for those under the age of 65.  These vaccines have been reserved for those who are most vulnerable and individuals will receive a text message from us if we can offer this vaccine to them. 

Who will be offered the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine will be 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. 

This year there is the possibility that we can offer patients the COVID-19 booster at the same time as their flu vaccine.  This is unconfirmed at this stage.  We will keep this page updated with the latest information.

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 still in the planning and development stages for the COVID-19 booster, we will keep this page updated as we receive further information.  Please do not contact us to book your COVID-19 booster vaccine at this time, we will contact you.  There is a possibility that we will be able to offer the booster vaccine to some, at the same time as their flu vaccine (only if it has been 180 days since the last covid vaccine). This will depend on the delivery schedules for the vaccine (this is not something we can control at a Practice level) and on the outcome of wider discussions currently taking place and the logistics of our flu clinics.   There are many unknowns still but we can confrim that the booster COVID-19 vaccine will be offered in two stages.

Stage 1 

  •  adults aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed 
  • those living in residential care homes for older adults
  •  all adults aged 70- years or over
  •  adults aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable
  • frontline health and social care workers

Stage 2

  •  all adults aged 50 years and over
  •  adults aged 16 - 49 who are in an influenza COVID-19 at risk group
  • adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

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.  

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. 

 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.

If I am Immunosuppressed can those in my household have the vaccine?

Adult household contacts of adults, over 16 year of age, with severe immunosuppression should be offered the COVID-19 Vaccination.  This aims to reduce the risk of infection to you by vaccinating those most likely to transmit to you, as even though you may have received your COVID-19 vaccination, you may have lower protection from the vaccine given that you are immunosuppressed.  Please let your adult household contacts know that they can now book a vaccination appointments via their registered GP. Please note that any household contacts aged 29 years or younger will need to receive the Pfizer/Moderna vaccine.  This can only be given at the vaccine centre at Ashton Gate and they can be contacted using the NHS online booking system or by calling 119 free of charge between 7am and 11pm.

Members of 'bubbles' who do not live with an immunosuppressed person are not included. 

I've received a letter about booking my vaccination appointment - what should I do?

Letters are being sent inviting patients to book a vaccine appointment via the NHS website or by ringing 119. This is being done by age cohort, in line with the JCVI guidance. This is an invitation to book an appointment at a mass vaccination centre - our local one is Ashton Gate Stadium.  Local pharmacies are also participating. You can do this by following the instructions in the letter. Please note that Ashton Gate is closing and from the 4th of August 2021 the vaccine will be offered at UWE instead.  All those with upcoming appointments at Ashton Gate will be contacted by Ashton Gate regarding this. 

If you are unable to book an appointment using the details in the letter, please call 119. 

When will I get my second dose?

The NHS is following new guidance from the Government’s expert advisors which says that prioritising a first dose for as many people as possible will save more lives. This is because even with just one dose the vaccine has been estimated to offer at least 74% effectiveness from two weeks after it is given. 

Second doses will now be delivered from the 8th week following your first dose. 

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: Sep 24, 2021