As the first anniversary of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS fast approaches, eligible people continue to be invited for a booster jab.
People can receive their vaccination either from their GP or from the Riverside Centre in Newport, which is run by Solent NHS Trust. However, people are being urged to wait until they are invited before they book in their jab so that capacity can be focussed on those with the highest clinical need first.
Currently, people in cohorts 1-9, where it has been at least 6 months since their second dose of the vaccination, are being invited for their booster jab.
Dr Michele Legg, Clinical Director for Hampshire Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“We understand that many people are very keen to be vaccinated as soon as is possible, and we urge people to wait until they receive their booster vaccination invitation before they try to book at one of our four GP-led vaccination sites or the Riverside Centre.
“People can book a slot at the Riverside Centre by using the National Booking Service website or by calling 119, with new slots being made available regularly. Alternatively, you can wait to be contacted by your GP to receive your booster at your surgery.
“We have booster vaccinations on the island so you do not need to make an appointment on the mainland.”
People should also ensure they keep their vaccination appointments or cancel them if they are no longer able to attend or it is no longer needed, so they can be reallocated to someone else.
Stephanie Clark, Senior Clinical Lead for the Solent vaccination programme, said:
“The Riverside Centre is open for people to book their booster vaccinations via the national booking system as well as for anyone aged 12-15 who may not have been vaccinated in their school.
“In addition, the centre, along with GP-led sites, continues to be open for walk-ins for people aged 16 and over who still need to have their first and second (eight weeks after first vaccination) COVID-19 vaccinations. Please look at the grab a jab website for the times of these walk-in sessions.
“While the majority of people are keeping their appointments, we are seeing an increase in people not keeping their booked appointments and therefore people are having to wait longer for an appointment than necessary.
“If you can no longer keep your appointment then please cancel it so we can offer it to someone else.
“We encourage people to come forward to receive their vaccines and we look forward to welcoming you to the centre.”
More than 2.7million COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since the launch of the vaccination programme in December last year. This is thanks to the incredible continued efforts of health and care partners and an army of dedicated volunteers.
To book a vaccine appointment, including for your booster vaccine, or to see where walk-in clinics are available, visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site
Cohorts 1-9 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme are:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)
- All those 65 years of age and over
- Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group
- All those 60 years of age and over
- All those 55 years of age and over
- All those 50 years of age and over
Not correct either. It is 5 months not 6 now. Westridge are offering walk in booster jabs. And my sister had an appointment and when she turned up had to queue with walk in people so appears to make no difference. The lack of info, plus contradictory information is shocking. Finally my hubby with heart problem and emphysema ought to be called in . He is deemed vulnerable for flu and pneumonia jabs but apparently not for the booster. It feels chaotic.
As from today you can enter the booking system 5 months after second dose to arrange your booster appointment but you will not be offered a date that is less than 6 months from the date of your 2nd dose. If it is 5 months since your hubby’s 2nd dose then visit http://www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab or dial 119 to book an appointment, it worked for my misses.
No, you cannot book anything local on the NHS website for the booster jab. You can have a day out in Southampton or Portsmouth if the ferries are running though. IOW NHS is totally chaotic, never had any letters so pointless waiting for that to arrive.
Yes you can, I booked mine at the Riverside Centre on the NHS website on Monday morning, before this article was published, and I have to ask why, when daily national news keeps reporting on the need to get a booster as near to the 6 month period as possible, on the very day that the booking system was brought forward to enable people to book at the 5 month point to get an appointment closer to the correct interval, why Dr Legg has decided to contradict national advice?
I have tried the web site and all the appointments were on the main land. So next I telephoned 119 and after answering lots of questions and then told to go to the mainland again! So I said why would I want to go on a ferry with lots of people, then I said what about the Riverside in Newport and she said there it is a walk in centre but to check the NHS walking in centre for the times as these change weekly.
No it’s not that simple. It’s saying unavailable for boosters and at riverside other sites are on the mainland
I tried up by tesco’s, but no joy as you can book an appointment five months from last jab, but NOT have it.
Many will perish if this isn’t sorted soon as Winters icy grip takes it grim toll on the frail. Lucky weather is mild, so far.
Yesterday, out of four of us using the online system:
two managed to book an appointment
one was told they had to phone 119
one was told the nearest centre was Portsmouth.
Shows how inconsistent the system is. And sorry but not waiting for any letter, this is important, don’t want another winter lockdown thanks
Aint it about time the no show appointment breakers get a fine unless they have a reasonable excuse for not turning up ? Forgetting dont cut it.
My invite letter states you may be able to get an appointment at your gP surgery but the surgery website says don’t contact them about vaccinations. Riverside is 28 mile return bus journey with a very limited service for me and I haven’t been on the pertri dish of infection that a bus currently offers since the start of all this.
Good ain’t it…..
petri dish of infection – jeez, you really are a tin foil hat wearer. You do realise that right outside your front door, are billions and billions of bacteria, viruses and other nasties, that your immune system fights of each and every day.
you do realise that covid is an airborne, upper respiratory tract infection – meaning it is carried on the wind and when you are walking along the road, you are likely to be surrounded by it.
get a grip will you.
So limiting my exposure to the virus makes me a tin hat wearer?
I have a compromised immune system. What is your excuse for having the jab or perhaps you are immune to the air borne nasties as you call them.
wihter is correct…as usual…so do i have a compromised but im not living in fear.nor go along with the bs hysteria media and gov brainwash you with.
its flue for most..my partner had it.yes vulnerable need too be careful and fo what makes them feel safe.if your jabbed please quit moaning. the unclean wont hurt you!
The NHS booking system is chaotic. First I had an invitation email – no slots on the Island. Then later I had a letter – yes there were slots so I booked the earliest available. Then my wife has letter – but no slots so tried again next day – slot available but several days earlier than mine.
I had my booster at Riverside (only available centre) some weeks ago – just received a letter stating I should make a booking as the record shows I haven’t had a booster injection.
Brilliant system.
Same for me too. I had my booster a few weeks ago but an NHS letter arrived in the post today saying it noted I had not had my booster!
Today, you have to go to England
Well Dr Legg, I’ve tried ten times today to try and book for my wife, all I’m getting is Portsmouth, Southampton, Havant.
Oh well let’s waste another day tomorrow, or just give up.
.
Hi Terry. All I can say is perservere. My colleague and I tried to book. She was offered the Riverside. I went online 10 minutes later and was offered Poole, Bournemouth or Chichester! I tried several times over the next 3 days and was offered the same 3 locations. I tried again on the 4th day and hooray, I got a slot at the Riverside. Good luck.
I sent weeksxtryjnv to organise an Oxford jab and finally I had both but now I need my booster jab I’m being told I have to have Pfizer!! Why can’t I have the same one? I have allergy issues so this is ridiculous!!
Utter, utter rubbish!!! Nowhere on the website apart from a London hospital, is giving booster jabs apparently! And it’s only Pfizer as well!? Why? If I’ve had both jabs previously with AstraZeneca why should I have anything different? Especially as they’re saying only have the same vaccine for your second jab? It doesn’t make sense to me