PEOPLE in Hampshire and Isle of Wight are urged to keep their COVID-19 jab appointment wherever possible after figures revealed more than 8,200 slots were missed in the last week alone.
A total of 8,296 appointments booked via the National Booking Service (NBS) were missed across the area in the last seven days – more than 1,000 a day.
However the real figure is likely to be far higher as this does not include missed COVID-19 appointment slots at GP practices across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which record the data individually.
It comes as dedicated health and care teams continue to do all they can to help ensure every adult across Hampshire and Isle of Wight is offered a booster jab by 31 December. This includes standing up walk-in clinics, delivering jabs via GP practices and outreach clinics, hospital hubs, pharmacies and mass vaccination centres.
Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and Clinical Lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “We know that eligible people are keen to get vaccinated as soon as possible. We continue to work hard to scale up capacity right across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight but particularly in the areas of greatest need, based on evidence, to help ensure our communities are protected against the virus.
“To ensure we can offer the vaccine to as many people as possible, it is really important than anyone with a booked appointment attends, or cancels or moves their slot if they no longer need it for any reason.”
Anyone eligible who has not yet taken up the offer of a first, second or booster dose is strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible to ensure they are as protected as possible from the virus. The offer of a COVID-19 jab is not time-limited so anyone invited can have the vaccine – even if they have previously declined and changed their mind.
The Omicron COVID-19 variant remains highly transmissible. Existing public health measures remain in place including:
- staying at home if you feel unwell
- get a test if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms
- wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces
- work from home if possible
- maintain social distancing and regular hand washing
- take up the offer of the free COVID-19 vaccine
To cancel or move a COVID-19 vaccine appointment booked through National Booking Service, please visit the website or call 119 (open between 7am and 11pm daily).
If you need to cancel or move an appointment booked via your GP practice, please do so via the link you followed when you received your text message invitation (Acubook). Please do not call your GP practice directly. Thank you.