Across the Midlands, the NHS covid autumn booster campaign has provided extra protection to over two million people, including nearly 200,000 people in Lincolnshire.
People aged 50 and over, children and adults aged 5-49 who are in a clinical risk group or are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression, carers aged 16 – 49 years and frontline health and care workers are being encouraged to get their autumn boosters as soon as possible ahead of a potential ‘twindemic’ of covid-19 and flu this winter.
“We know that respiratory viruses typically peak in the winter months. We also understand that there are other pressing concerns for many people right now, particularly around the cost of living, but it’s still vital to maximise your protection against covid-19 and flu by getting both your covid autumn booster and your flu jab,” comments Karen Hewinson, Head of Clinical Services, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
“Getting protected will be particularly important this year, given the likelihood of both covid-19 and flu circulating through our communities at the same time. Lincolnshire people have helped us get the covid autumn booster campaign off to a flying start, but we need people to keep coming forwards for their vaccinations.”
With this in mind, the Mass Vaccination Centre at PRSA, Boston, has this week started taking walk-ins for the covid autumn booster, meaning people can turn up without an appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9am-12pm, Fridays 2pm-4pm, and Saturdays 12pm-3pm.
“We ran walk-ins over the summer and they worked well, since they provide a degree of flexibility for people to turn up and get vaccinated,” adds Karen. “As over the summer, the walk-ins we’re running now will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and will depend on vaccine supply. You should also be mindful that pre-booked appointments will continue to take priority, meaning occasionally there may be a wait for people who turn up on a walk-in basis.”
With an extremely strong start to the covid autumn booster campaign, in conjunction with the rollout of the flu vaccination, the NHS in Lincolnshire is doing everything possible to protect the public as we head into the winter months. This includes urging a number of other at risk groups – including pregnant women, those who are in a clinical risk group such as recipients of stem cell transplants, or who live with someone who is immunosuppressed – to come forwards.
“For women who are pregnant it gets harder to fight off infections, which means they – and their baby – are potentially at greater risk from covid and flu. However, getting the covid autumn booster and a flu jab is safe and will help protect both mother and baby,” explains Julie Humphreys, Head of Clinical Services, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
It is also still possible to get both the original 1st and 2nd primary doses of the covid vaccination in Lincolnshire, as well as the 1st booster.
“At our two Mass Vaccination Centres at PRSA, Boston, and the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, we’re also offering vaccinations for 5-11 and 12-15 year-olds and we will be adding extra sessions on for 5-11 year-olds at the Weighing Rooms next week (w/c 31st October). You can find out more on our Grab a Jab page,” adds Julie.
If you get a text or email inviting you to book an appointment for your covid autumn booster you can do this online using the National Booking System or by calling 119. Or you can wait to be contacted by your GP.
For a flu vaccination pregnant women should contact their midwife or GP surgery to find out where they can get a flu vaccine. It’s a good idea to get vaccinated as soon as possible and GPs in Lincolnshire have their flu vaccine supply now. In Lincolnshire, pregnant women can get a flu vaccination at an antenatal clinic, as well as a whooping cough vaccination. Alternatively, it is possible to make an appointment at a GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers the flu vaccine. For more information visit on the flu vaccination visit www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
It is also worth noting that many of the GP and community pharmacy-run covid vaccination sites around the county are offering people the opportunity to get their flu jab at the same time as their covid autumn booster, although the Meres Vaccination Centre, Grantham, the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and PRSA, Boston, are not and are only offering covid vaccinations.