“It’s so important to have the Covid-19 booster as you never know what’s going to happen with Coronavirus.’’
That’s why Edward Davingoff, from Margate, was at the Saga vaccination site in Ramsgate last week having his booster ready for winter.
He said: “The process has been very easy. We received messages from the NHS and I booked myself and my wife’s boosters by phone and email. We have quite a large family so it makes it a lot safer with the booster.”
The Covid-19 booster vaccination programme started in earnest last week with the first clinics taking place across Kent and Medway. The programme will provide a third dose of the vaccine to more than 350,000 people.
In line with new guidance set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on 14 September, the NHS vaccination programme will now invite eligible people, who had their second Covid-19 jab at least six months ago, for a top up.
Those eligible include:
- People living in residential care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- people with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19, as well as adult carers
- adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
- anyone aged 50-years-old and over.
Local GP-led services have started to vaccinate eligible individuals at booked and walk-in clinics, with hospital hubs starting to vaccinate frontline health and care workers in the coming days. More vaccination clinics and community pharmacies are due to come online soon too.
People do not need to contact the NHS to arrange their booster vaccine; the NHS will be in touch when they become eligible for the jab. They will get a call or text from their local GP led site, or be invited by the National Booking Service, which has started issuing invitations.
Sarah Cavelina, from Westgate, was also at the Saga site having her booster. She said: “Booking was quick and easy, and the process here was very easy. Everyone is really nice; they are a happy bunch. It’s really important people get their booster, it gives them freedom.’’
Booster jabs are effective for topping up protection for people who have had both Covid-19 vaccinations at least six months before.
In line with JCVI advice, people will receive one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will be prioritising care home residents and staff making sure they are offered a vaccine by the beginning of November.
CCG Chief Nurse Paula Wilkins said: “The rollout of the booster vaccine will help protect those who are most at risk from Covid-19 during the winter months and help to make sure our local and national NHS services are able to cope, during what is always a busy period.
It's important to remember that even if you eligible for the booster vaccine, you must wait at least six months from your second dose, before you can get it. If you attend a clinic before then, we won’t be able to give you the vaccine.”
Visit our vaccine pages for more information on the booster vaccine rollout.