Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Changes to COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

After 12 February 2023, you will not be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.

Some people at increased risk, for example, because of age or certain medical conditions, may be offered a seasonal booster later this year. If you are eligible for this, the NHS will contact you when it’s your turn to get vaccinated.

If you have not had a 1st or 2nd dose of COVID vaccine and are eligible you can still do so at any time at a Walk-in COVID vaccination clinic :-

How to get a 1st and 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine

If you are aged 5 or over and had a severely weakened immune system when you had your first 2 doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, you may be offered an additional primary dose (3rd dose) before any booster doses:-

How to get an additional primary course of COVID-19 vaccine

Find a Walk-in COVID Vaccination Site or visit The Vaccinators

COVID-19 booster vaccinations for housebound patients

Booster vaccinations for housebound patients are currently underway in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with a number of providers including NHS Trust and community pharmacy teams delivering boosters. The NHS will contact you directly to offer you a booster vaccination within your home.

As our GP Practice is not delivering vaccinations to housebound patients at this stage, please do not call us to ask when you will be vaccinated as we will not be in a position to tell you when you will get your booster.

If you have become housebound since you received your second vaccine, please contact us to let us know so that we can make a note on your record to reflect that you are now housebound. This will enable the NHS to contact you to offer you a vaccine within your home.

If you feel able to you are very welcome to book your COVID-19 booster vaccination outside your home, by visiting www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119.

If you need support to travel to a vaccination site, our Local Authorities provide a Transport Support Offer. You can find out more about this offer via www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination, or by calling 0345 045 5219.

Tell the NHS about Covid-19 Vaccinations you have had abroad

This service enables you to book an appointment to show evidence for any coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you've had outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your vaccination record.

Children aged 5 and above with an NHS number who have had 1 or more COVID-19 vaccinations outside of England can now have them recorded in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS). 

Appointments can be booked on the National Booking Service to show evidence of their vaccinations.

An updated list of approved vaccines can be found on the booking page.

How to access your COVID-19 vaccination status

From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from: 

  • the NHS App which you can download from app stores 

  • the NHS website 

  • 119 - by requesting a paper letter

You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.

If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take up to 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.

29 July 2022 Update: Parents or guardians of children aged 5-11 years can now obtain a digital NHS COVID Pass

Parents and guardians can now request a digital NHS COVID Pass for travel  for children aged 5 to 11. This provides a record of the child’s vaccinations and proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days.  Travel letters for 5-11 year olds who have received a full primary course of a COVID-19 vaccination, as well as recovery letters showing proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days for this age group, are already available.

Digital passes can be requested by parents or legal guardians via the NHS website. They will need to have access to either the mobile phone number or email address on the child’s GP record as it is not available via GP practices. Further details can be found on the GOV.UK guidance pages.

 

Covid-19 Vaccine Side Effects

Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:

  • a sore arm where the needle went in
  • feeling tired
  • a headache
  • feeling achy
  • feeling or being sick

You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to.

You may get a high temperature or feel hot or shivery 1 or 2 days after having your vaccination.

But if you have a high temperature that lasts longer than 2 days, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste you may have COVID-19. Stay at home and get a test.

If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call 111.

Reports of extremely rare blood clots

The MHRA is carrying out a detailed review of reports of an extremely rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The problem can also happen in people who have not been vaccinated and it's not yet clear why it affects some people.

The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. For people aged 40 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh any risk of clotting problems.

For people under 40 without other health conditions, it's currently advised that it's preferable to have another COVID-19 vaccine instead of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Call 111 immediately if you get any of these symptoms starting from around 4 days to 4 weeks after being vaccinated:

  • a severe headache that is not relieved with painkillers or is getting worse
  • a headache that feels worse when you lie down or bend over
  • a headache that's unusual for you and occurs with blurred vision, feeling or being sick, problems speaking, weakness, drowsiness or seizures (fits)
  • a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin
  • shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal (tummy) pain

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting on GOV.UK

So far, millions of people have been given a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or clotting problems, have been very rare.

To find out more about the vaccines approved in the UK, see:

UPDATE ON OXFORD/ASTRAZENECA VACCINE April 2021

The MHRA is carrying out a detailed review of reports of a very rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

The problem can also happen in people who have not been vaccinated and it's not yet clear why it affects some people.

The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. For people aged 30 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh any risk of clotting problems.

For people under 30 without other health conditions, it's currently advised that it's preferable to have another COVID-19 vaccine instead of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Call 111 immediately if you get any of these symptoms starting from around 4 days to 4 weeks after being vaccinated:

  • a severe headache that is not relieved with painkillers or is getting worse
  • a headache that feels worse when you lie down or bend over
  • a headache that's unusual for you and occurs with blurred vision, feeling or being sick, problems speaking, weakness, drowsiness or seizures (fits)
  • a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin
  • shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal (tummy) pain

Public Health England has published a guide for patients with more information on Covid-19 vaccination and blood clotting.

AZ vaccine blood clot FAQ.pdf

Covid-19 Vaccination - Guidance for Women of Childbearing Age, Currently Pregnant or Breast Feeding

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as people of the same age or risk group.  The COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK have been shown to be effective and to have a good safety profile. These vaccines do not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb.

If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, read the latest guidance from Public Health England (April 2021).

Covid-19 Vaccination In Pregnancy.pdf

Covid-19 Vaccination and Severe Mental Illness

If you are an adult living with a severe mental illness in England you should now be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination.  You could also be eligible if you care for someone with a severe mental illness.

The Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective.  It is being offered to priority groups first, before being offered to all adults in the UK whether they are in a priority group or not.  Working age people (aged 16-64) with severe mental illness are included in Priorty Group 6 and also includes those with learning disabilities.  Equally Well UK have produced a guide for people with severe mental illness and their carers on what to expect from the Covid-19 vaccination programme. 

New videos to support people with severe mental illness get their COVID19 vaccine and advice for primary care professionals that support people with SMI are now available here: https://bit.ly/3fM24KF

Covid-19 Vaccination and Severe Mental Illness.pdf