COVID VACCINATION

COVID-19 Booster vaccination programme update

Guidance sent out last week from the JVCI has advised that co-administration of the Covid Booster and the flu vaccine has been approved.

However, NHS England have requested that the booster is given in order of Covid Priority Risk Groups (see below) and 180 days after the patients second vaccine. This would impact patients already booked in to our flu clinics causing mass cancellations and delays. To meet the 180 day criteria, many of our patients won’t be able to access the booster, and consequently the flu vaccine if co-administered, until late November.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽

1 Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

2 All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

3 All those 75 years of age and over

4 All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)

5 All those 65 years of age and over

6 Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group

7 All those 60 years of age and over

8 All those 55 years of age and over

9 All those 50 years of age and over

For this reason, we are following previous guidance from NHSE to administer the flu vaccines to our patients as early as possible to offer them protection, and we will not be offering the Covid Booster at the same time as the flu vaccine.

Based on the most recent guidance, patients will be invited to book an appointment for their Covid Booster using the National Booking System, and will need to attend the Mass Vaccination Hubs.