What is the COVID-19 booster programme?

The COVID-19 booster programme is the rollout of an additional vaccine dose to people who have previously received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure continued protection for those most at risk from COVID-19.

Why is it needed?

To provide people most likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 and those who care for them with the best possible protection for this winter.

Who is eligible?

Stage 1:

• those living in nursing and residential care homes
• those aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed
• all adults aged 70+
• those aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable
• frontline health and social care workers.

Stage 2:

• all adults aged 50+
• adults aged 16–49 years who are in seasonal flu or COVID-19 at-risk group.
• adult household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed

If eligible, when and where can patients be vaccinated?

Bassett Road Surgery IS delivering boosters so there is a choice of where our patients may have their booster vaccination.

Eligible patients will be invited to book an appointment directly by the NHS and Bassett Road Surgery in order of clinical priority – please do not contact the surgery.

Once an invitation for vaccination has been received, patients may book via the National Booking System (for vaccination at a nearby centre), at a participating local Pharmacy or via the Bassett Road Surgery booking system to book a vaccination here at the practice – please wait for an invitation to do this.

NB: There are NO walk-in facilities for boosters to ensure safety.

What is the Interval between the 2nd dose and COVID booster?

There must be a minimum of 6 months (26 weeks) between the 2nd and 3rd doses.
Please wait for your invitation before booking.

Can a booster be given if the initial course is incomplete?

No, patients need to finish the primary course of vaccination before being eligible for the booster programme.

Are 1st doses still available?

Yes– please book via the National Booking System via: www.nhs.uk/bookcoronavirus-vaccination

Do patients need to be observed post-vaccination and can they drive?

Yes, all recipients of the Pfizer vaccine will be encouraged to wait for observation/monitoring for 15 minutes post vaccination, after which time they may drive.

Text Messaging from the NHS

Nationally, the NHS is sending text messages to eligible people to invite them to book booster vaccination appointments. These messages can be trusted as genuine if they come from ‘NHSvaccine’, include a link to the NHS.uk website and give the option of phoning 119 for further support.

Cancelling an appointment.

If a patient has booked via the National Booking System, log back on and cancel via the same site. If the appointment was booked via the practice system, login to that and cancel directly.

Where are the mass vaccination sites?

• Bedford Heights, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7BJ
• Watling House, High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LF
• Redgrave Centre, 27 Redgrave Gardens, Luton, LU3 3QN
• Farley Hill Community Centre, Delphine Close, Luton, LU1 5RE
• Saxon Court, 502 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 3HS

Will COVID boosters become a yearly injection like the flu vaccine?

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are not yet recommended because the need for, and timing of, boosters has not yet been determined.

How will Nursing/Care Home/Housebound residents be vaccinated?

Bassett Road Surgery IS vaccinating as part of the booster programme and so this group of patients will be contacted by us to arrange an appointment for home vaccination.