In the latest phase of the covid vaccination programme, Lincolnshire will join the rest of country and launch the first autumn boosters across the county from early September onwards.
Ultimately available to everyone aged 50 and over, the rollout of the autumn covid booster will start w/c 5th September when care home residents and housebound patients will begin to be given the booster vaccination, before progressing the following week to begin vaccinating people aged 75 and over.
“We’re really excited to get started with the autumn booster and hope that, like before, the people of Lincolnshire will come forwards in their numbers to get vaccinated when it is their turn,” comments Karen Hewinson, Head of Clinical Services, NHS Lincolnshire ICB.
“Like last time some people will be contacted/called forwards by their GP practice when it is their turn, and some won’t – it depends on whether you are due to have your autumn booster at a site run by your GP practice or at one of our other vaccinations sites.
“Either way, don’t worry – provided you are eligible and it has been at least 90 days since your last vaccination, you will be able to book an appointment for your autumn booster, either online using the National Booking System – which will be open from w/c 5th September, offering appointments from w/c 12th September onwards – or by telephoning 119.”
As with previous rounds of the covid vaccination, the NHS in Lincolnshire will have vaccination sites around the county, the majority of which will be run by GP practices and community pharmacies.
In addition to these local sites, the NHS will once again be running two Mass Vaccination Centres from early September, with the existing site at PRSA, Boston, and a new site at The Weighing Rooms, Carholme Road, Lincoln.
“We’re really pleased to be able to open a second Mass Vaccination Centre again and I know the team at the Weighing Rooms are really excited about their new base. We made the decision to close our site at The Lincolnshire Showground earlier in the summer and have undertaken a significant amount of outreach vaccination work since then, but it will be great to have a second permanent site again,” explains Karen.
The autumn booster campaign is scheduled to run until early December, by which time everyone aged 50 and over, as well as a number of other cohorts including pregnant women, carers, household contacts of immunosuppressed people, those at increased risk of covid-19, and health and social care staff will have been offered an autumn booster.
“Our advice hasn’t changed – if you’re eligible you should make an appointment and come forwards for your vaccination as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to maximise your protection from covid and serious illness, hospitalisation or even death.
“We’re expecting case numbers to rise again in the autumn and into the winter, so it really is crucial to get vaccinated when you can – as long as it’s at least 90 days since your last covid vaccination, we’ll be very happy to see you and give you your vaccination,” adds Karen.
The likelihood of seeing the combined effects of covid and flu this winter for the first time makes getting a covid vaccination even more important and eligible people attending the GP and community pharmacy-run vaccination sites may be offered the flu and covid jab at the same time.
Until the 31st August, the NHS in Lincolnshire is continuing to offer people the opportunity to get 1st, 2nd and 3rd booster doses of the covid vaccination, either at one of the pop-up vaccination sessions or one of the PRSA clinic sessions, all available on a walk-in basis, and listed on our Grab a Jab page.
Alternatively, it is possible to book an appointment online using the National Booking System or by calling 119.