Since the autumn COVID booster programme launched last month, more than 200,000 people, many of which are considered more at risk from the virus, have come forward in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to get vaccinated ahead of the winter. This includes people aged 75 and over, the severely immunosuppressed and frontline health and care workers.
More than 3,800 people have also come forward since the start of the autumn booster programme to receive their first or second dose of the vaccine, showing it is never too late to get vaccinated if you have changed your mind. If you are yet to get vaccinated or need to book in for your second or third dose, we would strongly encourage you to get it as soon as you are eligible.
Due to such high demand, we know some people have had trouble accessing an appointment time at a time that works for them. As a reminder, GPs are contacting their registered patients in order of clinical priority with information on bookable or walk-in clinics they are offering for eligible individuals. Additional slots are also being added regularly to the national booking system, so please keep checking back. Please be assured that there is vaccine available, and we are working on increasing availability.
Currently people aged 65 and over, as well as carers and pregnant women, can book to get vaccinated, while other eligible groups will start to be invited over the coming weeks. You may also be offered your COVID vaccine alongside your flu vaccine if you are eligible, but this is not being offered in all locations. It is completely safe to have both at the same time.
Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and Clinical Lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “Winter is always a challenging time for NHS services, and we know that flu and COVID are likely to cause additional demand over the coming months. Getting vaccinated is proven to reduce your risk of getting seriously unwell if you catch COVID, so it has been fantastic to see so many people eager to get jabbed so early in the programme and top up their immunity.
“Our vaccinators and teams have been working hard to make sure the most vulnerable members of our communities are vaccinated first to help reduce the chance of them getting seriously unwell should they catch the virus. This has included GPs going into care homes and taking on bookings to vaccinate registered patients over the next few months, community pharmacy offering conveniently located access to those eligible, and pop-up clinics ran by Solent NHS Trust helping us reach specific communities. Thank you to everyone who has already received or booked in to get vaccinated.”
Getting your COVID vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID, reduce your risk of spreading or catching the virus, and protect against the different variants. Many eligible people have started receiving text messages and letters inviting them to book, while visits to vaccinate care home residents and staff continue.
If you are eligible and had your last jab at least three months ago, you can find your nearest bookable appointment through the national booking system (www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine).
As a reminder, please cancel or rearrange any appointments you can make and if you have recently had a confirmed COVID infection, you should wait four weeks before getting your booster if you’re aged 18 years or over.
Where can I get the autumn booster?
- You may be invited by your general practice to book an appointment. You may have already received an invitation, and more are being sent over the coming weeks.
- Community pharmacies will be offering bookable appointments for vaccination through the national booking system
- Bookable appointments at other sites such as Oakley Road, Southampton; Riverside on the Isle of Wight, or the Health Hub at Festival Place in Basingstoke. These are being offered through the national booking system
- Walk-in clinics with limited capacity on a first-come-first-served basis. These are being advertised in areas local to the clinics to make sure those communities can access them if needed.