In the two weeks since the start of the autumn booster programme in Lincolnshire, 62,964 people (as of 29th September) in the county have already had their covid autumn booster.
This phenomenal response to the latest stage in the covid vaccination programme from people across Lincolnshire is exactly as the NHS in the county hoped for.
“We’re really pleased that people have come forwards once again in significant numbers,” comments Karen Hewinson, Head of Clinical Services, NHS Lincolnshire ICB. “We weren’t entirely sure how it would play out, but the response has been humbling and very encouraging.”
As part of the autumn booster programme, everyone aged 50 and over is eligible for an autumn booster. Right now vaccination sites around the county are currently vaccinating people aged 65 or over before they move onto the next age group down in due course.
“We don’t know exactly when we’ll formally start vaccinating people in the next age group down, but the rate at which people aged 65 and over are coming forwards could suggest that we’ll be vaccinating people under 65 within a couple of weeks,” adds Karen.
“If you receive a text or email inviting you to book an appointment for your autumn booster, please do this as soon as possible online using the National Booking System or by calling 119. Or you can wait to be contacted by your GP.”
Many people across Lincolnshire will have already received a text or email inviting them to book an appointment and some have found that, on trying to do this, they have been told they are ineligible. However, as Karen reassures, this is only because some of the people trying to book in are younger than the age group currently being vaccinated.
“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just that if you try and book an appointment online or by phone before the appointment slots have been opened to vaccinate people of your age – and currently we’re vaccinating people aged 65 or over – you will be told you are ineligible. All this means is you can’t book right now and that you should try again over the next few days. You will definitely be able to get an autumn booster when we are vaccinating people of your age.”
In addition to being available to everyone 50 and over, the autumn booster is also available to pregnant women, carers, household contacts of immunosuppressed people, those with clinical vulnerabilities, and health and social care staff.
“Covid is circulating, and it’s been fairly widely reported that case numbers are ticking up, plus this is the first winter that covid and flu will likely circulate together. So provided you’re eligible and it’s been at least 90 days since your last dose, please book an appointment for your autumn booster as soon as you can, it is still the best way to protect yourself from covid,” adds Karen.
Appointments can be booked online via the National Booking System or by calling 119. In addition, there is a list available of the scheduled vaccination clinics available at the county’s two Mass Vaccination Centres at the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and at PRSA, Boston, on our Grab a Jab page.