Wirral COVID-19 vaccine updates
From Monday 17 January 2022 all 16–17 year-olds in England will be eligible to book an appointment or attend a walk in vaccination centre for their COVID-19 booster jab.
This follows the advice issued at the end of 2021 from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that children and young people aged 16 to 17 years should be offered a booster of COVID-19 vaccine no sooner than 91 days after completion of their primary course.
Please visit http://www.wirralccg.nhs.uk/CovidVaccineWalkIn to find a site near you or to book on-line please visit www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab.
You can read COVID-19 vaccination: A guide for children and young people here.
The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year in a race to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.
As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.
The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.
The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab.
For further information about the COVID-19 booster dose visit the NHS website
From 8 December 2021,
- the National Booking System will be available for those in cohorts 1 to 10 to book their booster vaccination appointment from 61 days after their second dose for appointments no earlier than 91 days from their second dose vaccination.
- booster vaccines can be administered at the minimum three month (91 day) intervalvia local bookings and walk ins (including Grab-a-Jab clinics) subject to the site operating under an appropriate legal mechanism.
Booster vaccine doses will be available on the NHS for people most at risk from COVID-19 who have had a 2nd dose of a vaccine at least 6 months ago.
This includes:
- people aged 40 and over
- people who live and work in care homes
- frontline health and social care workers
- people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
- people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
- people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
People who are pregnant and in 1 of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.
Health conditions that put you at high risk from COVID-19How and when to get your COVID-19 booster vaccine
If you're eligible, you'll be offered a booster dose 6 months after you had your 2nd dose.
Most people can:
- book a vaccination appointment online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy
- go to a walk-in vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
- wait to be contacted by a local NHS service such as a GP surgery and book an appointment with them
Book your vaccination appointment online
You can book your COVID-19 booster dose online if it's been 5 months (152 days) since you had your 2nd dose and you are:
- aged 40 and over
- aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19
- a frontline health or social care worker
You'll be offered appointment dates from 6 months after the date of your 2nd dose.
Please wait to be contacted by the NHS before booking your booster dose or visiting one of our local our vaccination centres.
Those who are eligible and had their second vaccine at least 182 days ago will be invited for a booster vaccine in one of the following ways:
- Via your own GP practice who can book you an appointment at a local vaccination centre in Wirral;
- Via letter or text message. Messages appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to make a booking at one of the mass vaccination sites across the country. People that aren’t able go online can book by phoning 119.
GP practices in Wirral are inviting and administering the booster vaccine to the eligible groups below
- those living in residential care homes for older adults
- all adults aged 80 years or over
- all adults aged 70 years or over
- all adults aged 60 years or over
- all adults aged 50 years or over
- frontline health and social care workers
- all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers
- adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
You can get your 1st dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if you're aged 16 or 17.
The NHS will contact you when it's your turn to get the vaccine. You'll be invited to a local NHS service such as a GP surgery.
You cannot book your appointment online.
Walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites in Wirral are offering the vaccine to people aged 16 and 17. You can check the opening times for a site near you here
The NHS COVID-19 vaccination bus will be returning to Wirral on 16 August 2021, providing residents with an alternative and convenient way to access the vaccine, without the need to make an appointment.
The bus will be parked at the following locations between 10am and 6pm:
- Monday 16 August – Birkenhead Park Visitors Centre
- Tuesday 17 August – Central Park, Wallasey
- Wednesday 18 August – Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton
- Wednesday 25 August – Ridgeway High
Anyone who is eligible for vaccination can drop in without an appointment.
First and second doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be offered. There must be a minimum of eight weeks between your first and second dose.
Other ways to get your vaccine…
To book your vaccine appointment at an alternative venue contact your GP practice, visit http://www.nhs.uk/ covid-vaccination or call 119.
For details of other walk-in clinics visit www.wirralccg.nhs.uk/covidvaccinewalkin
The NHS COVID-19 vaccination bus will be returning to Wirral on 22 July 2021, providing residents with an alternative and convenient way to access the vaccine, without the need to make an appointment.
The bus will be parked at Leasowe Leisure Centre, 88 Twickenham Dr, Wirral CH46 1PF on Thursday 22 July, 1pm-6pm
A 'family friendly' pop up vaccination clinic will also be running at Seacombe Children's centre, St Paul's Rd, Wallasey CH44 7AN on Friday 23 July, 9am–2pm
Anyone who is eligible for vaccination can drop in without an appointment.
First and second doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be offered. There must be a minimum of eight weeks between your first and second dose.
Other ways to get your vaccine…
To book your vaccine appointment at an alternative venue contact your GP practice, visit http://www.nhs.uk/ covid-vaccination or call 119.
For details of other walk-in clinics visit https://www.wirralccg.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccination-walk-in-clinics/
A free bus voucher is now available to support people on low incomes to travel to Wirral vaccination centres.
People can call the Coronavirus Helpline on 0151 666 5050 (Mon to Fri 9-5pm) to request a voucher.
Each voucher will be issued on a first come, first served basis.
There were more than one million bookings for a COVID-19 vaccine through the NHS website yesterday (Tuesday 8 June), a record high figure and the first time daily appointments booked through the national booking service have topped the million mark.
As eligibility extended to people aged 25 to 29 yesterday morning, a total of 1,082,596 first and second dose slots were snapped up across the day, online and by phone.
That's around 45,000 an hour on average - and more than 750 every minute, over the full 24 hours.
If you are 25 or over, have a health condition that puts you at greater risk, are a health or social care worker or an unpaid carer, you can book an appointment now on the NHS website. If you cannot book online, call 119 free of charge, any time between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment at Clatterbridge vaccination centre via https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr or wait to be invited by your GP to attend a local GP-led vaccination centre.
If you are 30 or over, or turn 30 before 1 July 2021, have a health condition that puts you at greater risk, are a health or social care worker or an unpaid carer, you can book an appointment now on the NHS website.
If you cannot book online, call 119 free of charge, any time between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week. Alternatively, you can book an appointment at Clatterbridge vaccination centre via https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr or wait to be invited by your GP to attend a local GP-led vaccination centre.
More than 32 million adults in England have received their first vaccine dose, and more than 20 million have now had their second jab.
GP and Medical Director for Primary Care, Dr Nikki Kanani, said:
“The offer doesn’t go away so if you are eligible and haven’t booked, please do come forward and do so. It is safe, effective and will protect you and those around you.”
In Wirral, people 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer vaccine in line with recently updated JCVI guidance.
The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme, the biggest in health service history, continues its rollout to people in their thirties, opening to people aged 36 and 37 today. Texts inviting people to book a vaccination will be sent to those aged 37 today and to 36 year olds on Wednesday. These appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment at Clatterbridge vaccination centre via https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr or wait to be invited by your GP (as soon as supplies allow) to attend a local GP-led vaccination centre.
In Wirral, people 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer vaccine in line with recently updated JCVI guidance.
People aged 38 and 39 are being sent text messages that allow them to access the national booking service at the touch of a button with further invitations to follow in the coming days and weeks. These appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.
Pregnant women will also be able to book through the national booking service from Thursday 13 May and will be directed to vaccination centres offering Pfizer in line with JCVI Guidance. They can also speak to their GP practice or maternity service if they have any questions about the coronavirus vaccine or can talk to a healthcare professional at their appointment.
If you cannot book online, call 119 free of charge, any time between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment at Clatterbridge vaccination centre via https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr or wait to be invited by your GP (as soon as supplies allow) to attend a local GP-led vaccination centre.
The NHS in Wirral currently vaccinates using two vaccines, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, both of which have been approved as safe and effective by the world leading medical regulator the MHRA.
Since the vaccination rollout began in December, nearly 30 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in England, two thirds of the total adult population. More than one third of adults have had both doses, meaning they have maximum protection from the virus, with second doses remaining a priority.
People aged 40 and over (or those who turn 40 before 1 July 2021) are now eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
Text invitations are being sent to 40 and 41-year-olds today. These appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.
If you cannot book online, call 119 free of charge, any time between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment at Clatterbridge vaccination centre via https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr or wait to be invited by your GP (as soon as supplies allow) to attend a local GP-led vaccination centre.
The NHS in Wirral currently vaccinates using two vaccines, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, both of which have been approved as safe and effective by the world leading medical regulator the MHRA.
More than 28 million adults, in England, have received their first vaccine dose, and nearly 12 million have now had their second jab.
Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. Although this condition remains extremely rare (around 4 people develop the condition for every million AZ doses given) there appears to be a higher risk in people shortly after the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been very successful with more than 30 million people vaccinated and more than 6,000 lives already saved. The vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or clotting problems, have been very rare.
Further information
Information about the AstraZeneca vaccine can be found on the .GOV website
Public Health England leaflets:
PHE COVID-19 AZ Vaccination Guide
PHE COVID-19 What to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination
Over 50 years of age or with underlying medical conditions
The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
If your first dose was with AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should have the second dose on time as you may still be at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. Having the second dose will give you higher and longer lasting protection.
If you are a healthy person over 30 to 50 years of age
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
If you are a healthy younger person aged 18 to 29 (inc staff members and carers)
The MHRA and the JCVI continue to monitor the benefits and safety of the AZ vaccine in younger people. You will be offered the vaccine available at the time and should carefully consider the risk to both you and your family and friends of COVID-19 before making a decision.
Currently JCVI has advised that it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AZ. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait or travel to a different PCN site or Clatterbridge, due to vaccine availability. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you.
What about the second dose?
If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to people aged 50 and over.
The NHS in Wirral are encouraging anyone aged 50 or over to book their appointment as soon as possible. Local appointments are currently available at Clatterbridge Vaccination Centre and local GP/PCN Vaccination Centres .
To book an appointment at Clatterbridge Vaccination Centre use the following link https://bit.ly/3cKnWTr You will need to know your NHS number. To find your NHS number please use the Find your NHS number service.
If you wish to book an appointment at a local GP/PCN vaccination centre, please contact your GP practice.
In line with national guidance, a process has been developed to offer known unpaid carers a vaccination under Priority Group 6, the aim of which is to protect the person they care for from Coronavirus. The identification of carers is being progressed in the following ways:
- Those known to GPs who have a ‘carers flag’ on their primary care record
- Those in receipt of or entitled to a carers allowance
- Those known to Local Authorities who are in receipt of support following a carers assessment
- Those known to local carers organisations and who are actively receiving care and support
We have worked with WIRED (Wirral Information Resource for Equality and Disability) to develop a process and known unpaid carers are now being notified and asked to contact WIRED to arrange a vaccination.
It is recognised that there are unpaid carers who will not be known to services and a process is being developed by the Department of Health and Social Care to enable these carers to be offered a vaccination. This will not only benefit the carers by offering them a vaccination but will also mean they can be assessed for any support requirements for which they may be eligible.
It is important to note that the offer of a vaccine under this process is to those people who care for anyone 16 years and over. There are exceptions for the carers of children under 16 years where the child has severe neuro-disabilities which would make them more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. More information can be found on Pages 10-11 of the Green Book at the following link:
If you care for a child who has severe neuro-disabilities and you haven’t already been contacted about the vaccine, please contact us via wiccg.intouch@nhs.net
The NHS in Wirral is now vaccinating people in the following priority groups:
- all those 65 years of age and over
- all individuals aged 16 years to to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- all those in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
GP led sites are offering jabs to clinically vulnerable patients, while people aged 65 and over will in the first instance be invited to book a vaccination at one of the mass vaccination centres. Should somebody aged 65 to 69 want to wait to be called by their local GP vaccination service or who have already received the jab they do not need to respond to their invitation.
People aged 70 and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) were in the first four groups prioritised for vaccination. The majority of people in Wirral within these groups have already received a first dose of the vaccine, however anyone who hasn’t should arrange their vaccination as soon as possible either by contacting their GP practice, emailng NHS Wirral CCG at WICCG.InTouch@NHS.net or using the national booking service.
People aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID and who would like to be are today being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.
Until now the NHS has asked people to wait until they are contacted to help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected first - and that remains the case for most people.
However, to ensure absolutely everyone is offered the vaccine, people aged 70 and over can now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated by the middle of this month.
The easiest way for people in Wirral to arrange an appointment at their local vaccination centre is by contacting their own GP practice or emailing NHS Wirral CCG at WICCG.InTouch@NHS.net
Many who have not yet booked an appointment are already receiving follow up letters and phone calls this week to encourage them to take up the offer of a jab.
For further information including other ways to book an appointment, please visit https://www.wirralccg.nhs.uk/news/call-for-people-aged-70-and-over-to-contact-nhs-for-a-covid-jab/
The vaccination programme in Wirral is being rolled out in line with national guidance.
All of our vaccination sites are currently prioritising vaccinating residents in groups 1 & 2 who are over 80 years of age, including care home residents and staff.
All sites are now offering vaccinations to people in groups 3 & 4 which include those over 70 years of age and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.
Wirral is on track to offer vaccinations to all people in groups 1 – 4 by 15 February 2021.
The vaccination programme will take some time to work through so please don’t be worried if you or a family member is over 70 but hasn’t heard anything so far. You might know others over 70 who have been invited for their vaccination already, but that does not mean that you or your relatives are a lower priority. The NHS will contact you when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. Please do not contact your GP practice before then.
Groups of GP practices in Wirral along with Wirral University Teaching Hospital have started to deliver the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine to priority groups. The order by which people are vaccinated is determined by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The initial part of the programme will prioritise groups 1 – 4 in order as determined by the JCVI, these are as follows:
Priority Group 1 - Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
Priority Group 2 – All those aged 80 years and over and frontline Health and Care Workers
Priority Group 3 – All those aged 75 years of age and over
Priority Group 4 – All those aged 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)
A summary of the vaccination programme and definitions of those who are included in priority groups 1-4 can be found in the COVID-19 Green Book Chapter 14
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948757/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v4.pdf
The initial weeks of the vaccination programme have used the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, this has to be stored at ultra-low temperatures (-70C) prior to use. This, along with limited initial supplies have meant that priority has been given to those in groups 1 and 2 and who are able to attend a vaccination centre. The majority of vaccinations to date have been given to people 80 years and over.
The recent approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine means that more people in groups 1 – 4 can be offered their first dose of a vaccine and our aim is to have invited eligible groups for this first dose by 15/2/21. However, this may be subject change due to the supply and availability of the vaccines and any change in national guidance.
The vaccination programme will take some time to work through so people should not be worried if they or a family member is over 80 but hasn’t heard anything so far. They might know others over 80 who have been invited for their vaccination already, but that doesn’t mean that they are a lower priority. GPs and other practice staff are working hard to vaccinate as many people in this group as quickly as possible, and during January more people will be invited in, but it is only the start of the vaccination programme and it will take some time to work through everyone.
2nd dose of Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine
Further to the stakeholder briefing issued by NHS Wirral CCG on Friday 8th January 2021, a policy directive has been issued by NHS England on Sunday 10th January 2021. This states that any planned 2nd doses of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine booked prior to 31st December 2020 will be cancelled with the available vaccine being given to those in the initial Priority Groups 1 & 2 who have not yet received a first dose of vaccine.
Any appointments booked for today, 11th January will go ahead as planned (where logistical difficulties make it impossible to cancel these patients at short notice) and those patients impacted by the cancellations will be contacted to rearrange their appointment in line with the national policy issued on 31st December 2020.
Support is being provided to Primary Care Networks to contact patients impacted by this change.
This change will result in more people in Priority Groups 1 and 2 receiving a first dose of vaccination and therefore more people in these groups will have a level of protection sooner than planned.
You don’t need to contact your GP practice or another NHS organisation to ask for your vaccination – or to request one for a member of your family – you will be invited when it is time for you to be vaccinated, either with a letter or a phone call.