Spring 2024 Covid Vaccine Boosters
You or your child may be offered a spring COVID-19 vaccine if you:
- are 75 years or over (you need to be 75 years old by 30 June 2024)
- are 6 months to 74 years old and have a weakened immune system
- live in a care home for older adults
Think you have covid?
The NHS website provides information on Covid symptoms, testing, self care and where to get help if needed https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Easy read leaflet
This easy read leaflet explains the symptoms of Covid and how to get a vaccine Easy Read Covid Vaccination Leaflet.
Covid-19 Treatment for high risk patients
The NHS offers treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill. This group of patients are also able to order free lateral flow tests to keep at home. Find out more on the NHS website Treatments for COVID-19 – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
If you get Covid-19 and are eligible for Covid-19 treatment, you can self-refer by using the following link: https://allianceforbettercare.org/nmabs/
Pulse Oximeter for positive at risk patients
Your GP may give you a pulse oximeter and ask you to record your heart rate and oxygen levels at home. Find out more about pulse oximeters and instructions on their use.
Isolation notes
Isolation notes are available at nhs.uk
Your Covid Recovery
Evidence shows that a significant proportion of post COVID-19 patients are likely to have significant ongoing health problems, notably breathing difficulties, tiredness and cough, reduced muscle function, reduced ability to undertake physical activity and psychological symptoms such as PTSD and reduced mood status.
Your Covid Recovery is a new NHS website designed to help people recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19 and support them to manage their recovery. It includes information from rehabilitation experts about how to manage ongoing symptoms and health needs at home, and signposts to sources of support.
Evidence of your covid vaccination
Find out how to get evidence of your covid vaccination on the www.gov.uk website. This includes guidance on proof of vaccination for children aged 5 years and above.
Incorrect Covid Vaccination Record
The Vaccine Data Resolution Service (VDRS) has been set up to help people with missing or incorrect vaccination records.
If you have been vaccinated in England, have a current NHS number and are registered with a GP practice in England then the service can help resolve issues with evidence of your vaccinations.
VDSR can currently assist with: missing or incorrect vaccination records for people registered with a GP practice in England and vaccinated in England, Scotland or Wales.
It cannot currently help:
- Cases where the person’s name or address is recorded incorrectly.
- Vaccinations given outside of England, Scotland or Wales
- Cases of non-MHRA-approved vaccines (the service cannot help with vaccines other than Oxford/AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), and Janssen)
- People who cannot evidence when and where they received their vaccination(s)
- Vaccine trial participants.
The Vaccine Data Resolution service can be contacted by calling 119, selecting option 1 (‘England’) and then option 4 (‘To report an issue with your vaccination record’). The call agents will take some details from you and make an electronic referral into the VDRS service.
The VDRS team will aim to contact you within 21 days. The number they will call you from is 01869 817119. They will make three attempts to contact you (this is not a number you can call into).
If they are unsuccessful in contacting you, you will need to call 119 and make a new referral. Your previous call will be closed after the three attempts to contact you.
Recording overseas vaccinations
Eligible people can now use a new service on the National Booking system to book a face-to-face appointment at a selected vaccination centre to show evidence of MHRA-approved COVID-19 vaccinations (Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Janssen or Moderna) administered abroad and have them recorded in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS). Visit the nhs.uk website to book an appointment.
Support is also provided through 119 to signpost the service, or to make bookings on behalf of users. We are working to add more sites and appointments to satisfy demand.
More information about who can use the service, what evidence is required and locations offering the service is provided when the user books an appointment.
Requests for COVID vaccination exemption certificates
Whilst we appreciate that some individuals may choose not to have covid-vaccinations for personal reasons, we have received requests from some patients for ‘vaccine exemption certificates’ for their employer or travel. The surgery will only consider such a certificate if there is a recognised contraindication to the Covid vaccination, as laid out in national guidelines:
- A previous systemic allergic reaction (including immediate-onset anaphylaxis)
- to a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine (or)
- to any component (excipient) of the COVID-19 vaccine e.g. polyethylene glycol (PEG)
- A confirmed clotting side-effect to the first dose of a covid vaccine, which requires the second dose to be delayed until the clotting concern has returned to normal
We will not consider providing covid vaccine exemption certificates in any other circumstances.
Warning over Covid vaccination scams
Be on your guard against fraudulent text and email messages as new scams are being sent to patients.
People are receiving a text or email notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link.
This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent to patients to arrange their appointments at the GP led vaccination services.
Please follow the advice below:
- The COVID-19 vaccination is ONLY available from the NHS and it is FREE – you will never be asked to pay for it or give your bank details.
- If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
- If you receive a text or email that you believe to be fraudulent please delete it. Please be assured that if you don’t respond because you are worried and it is a genuine text or email, you will remain on the vaccination list and be contacted again
- If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.
