Getting vaccinated, thinking carefully about which service is right for your needs, and making sure loved ones can get home easily when ready to leave hospital are just three ways you can help take pressure off health services this winter.
With the announcement last week that people aged 50 years and above are now eligible to get their COVID autumn booster and flu vaccine, alongside rising levels of the viruses both nationally and locally, there is no time like the present for people to come forward and help keep them and those around them safe this winter.
From GP practices and community pharmacies to vaccine centres and walk-in clinics there are a variety of ways you can access your vaccine this autumn. GPs are contacting their patients in order of clinical priority as well as helping vaccinate care home residents and staff, while other sites are bookable through the National Booking Service. Walk-in clinics are being promoted locally as well as online.
For many people COVID can leave them with symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, and temperature. However, for those most at risk it can be life threatening and lead to further health complications further down the line so we need to do what we can to protect those around us. Health and social care staff are also able to get both vaccines to help protect vital NHS services and reduce the risk of high staff absence due to illness.
Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and clinical lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID Vaccination Programme, said, “Thanks to the efforts of colleagues and the amazing response from the public to the COVID-19 vaccination programme, COVID has become a much milder illness. The best way to protect the health services we all rely on to continue delivering planned as well as urgent care is to maintain our high level of vaccine uptake for COVID and flu. This is particularly important for those at increased risk of serious illness such as people who are pregnant or have conditions affecting their immune system. If you are offered both vaccines at the same appointment, it is safe to do this and across Hampshire and Isle of Wight over 60,000 people have taken the NHS up on this offer. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and those around you.”
So far, we have seen over 300,000 doses of the seasonal autumn booster delivered across Hampshire and Isle of Wight. On top of this nearly 6,000 people have come forward since the start of the autumn rollout to receive their first or second dose of the COVID vaccine, so if you are yet to get vaccinated or have not yet had your first two doses, it is never too late to top up your immunity.
Dr Derek Sandeman, chief medical officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS), said, “As the weather turns and more people are spending time indoors, we are seeing a rise locally in COVID levels as well as other respiratory viruses such as flu and the common cold. We have seen in previous years the affect these illnesses can have on health services and know that getting vaccinated against COVID and flu reduces your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. Across Hampshire and Isle of Wight we are seeing an increase in the number of patients with COVID being admitted to hospital alongside rising demand for our services. While COVID is not the main reason for many being admitted, it still complicates the way teams are able to provide care, to protect other more vulnerable patients from the virus. Please help your NHS this autumn and get vaccinated now. You have the chance to make a real difference to how COVID and flu impact services this winter.”
If people need help with booking an appointment or need information in alternative languages, they can contact the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 helpline on 0300 561 0018 (open between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm at weekends).
As a reminder, if you ned to cancel or move an appointment, please do it as soon as possible so the space can be opened to others. Appointments can be changed through the National Booking Service or by calling 119 (open between 7am and 11pm daily). If an appointment has been made through a GP or pharmacy directly, it should be cancelled or rearranged through them.