Since the autumn COVID booster programme launched last month, over 200,000 people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, many of which are considered more at risk from the virus, have come forward to get protected ahead of winter.
This includes people aged 75 and over, the severely immunosuppressed and frontline health and care workers.
Contacted in clinical priority
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
Additional slots are also being added regularly to the national booking system including additional availability at Riverside over the next two weeks, where extra clinics have been confirmed by Solent NHS Trust to help people access the vaccine at a convenient time for them.
These appointments are bookable through the national booking system and as a reminder, Riverside and St Marys Hospital is not currently operating a walk-in service.
Who is eligible
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.
Legg: There’ll be plenty of opportunities to boost your immunity ahead of winter
Dr Michele Legg, GP at Tower House Surgery and Partner Member from Primary Care at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) said,
“It has been great to see so many people keen to get vaccinated and we would urge everyone to remember there will be plenty of opportunities to boost your immunity ahead of winter. Here on the Island, GPs have been messaging their registered patients to invite them to get vaccinated at their practice. This is being done in order of clinical priority alongside practices helping vaccinate care home staff and residents, so if you are yet to hear from your GP, please don’t be concerned. They will be in touch.
“A number of community pharmacies are helping support the delivery of the autumn booster and available slots will be added to the national booking service on a regular basis. This goes alongside some local walk-in clinics, but these offer a limited number of slots for people in those communities, and you may be turned away when the clinic reaches capacity.
“We know that some residents have had difficulty finding appointments through the national booking service. More appointments are being added regularly for you to get jabbed at a community pharmacy or other local clinics, so please keep checking back if you would prefer to not wait to get invited by your practice. To reassure residents, we have vaccine on the Island, so you do not need to make an appointment on the mainland. Some practices and pharmacies will be offering the flu vaccine alongside the booster if you are eligible. It is safe to receive both at the same time and many people have said this has been a more convenient way of getting vaccinated this winter.”
Book your slot
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.
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.
If you have booked through the national booking system, please rearrange or cancel your appointment through the same site.
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 Riverside and St Mary’s Hospital 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.
News shared on behalf of Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. Ed
