OVER 76,000 people in Coventry and Warwickshire have already received their autumn Covid vaccine booster dose just two weeks into the NHS’s latest campaign against coronavirus – with cases of the virus rising aided by the return to school and colder weather.
There are 37 sites in the region offering Covid boosters – mainly community pharmacies and GP premises as well as a few bigger centres – while roving teams visit care homes and housebound patients to vaccinate the most vulnerable members of the population.
The NHS is also rolling out this year’s flu vaccine, with eligible people able to get their flu and Covid jab at the same time depending on local system arrangements.
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (CWCB) is encouraging residents to get jabbed – particularly the over-65s, pregnant women, the severely immunosuppressed, carers and frontline health and care workers – to increase their protection ahead of the winter months when respiratory viruses are usually at their peak.
Dr Angela Brady, Chief Medical Officer for the CWCB, said: “We are so pleased to hit this number within the first weeks of the booster campaign, and we still have a long way to go. I would strongly encourage those who are eligible to book to have their autumn booster and flu vaccination to ensure they remain protected this winter.
“We know how well the vaccination works in protecting people, and we want eligible people in Coventry and Warwickshire to get protected as soon as possible before we get into the depths of winter.”
Adam Williams, Associate Director of Operations at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust – which is the lead provider for the vaccination programme – said: “Our vaccination sites, which are based in a number of GP-led hubs, clinics, hospital hubs, pharmacies and community services, are doing a fantastic job delivering the autumn booster and protecting the public against serious illness this winter.
“Covid hasn’t gone away and it can still be life threatening, especially to those at greater risk, so it’s vital that if you’re eligible, you get your next dose as soon as possible.”
In the coming weeks, those aged 50-64 will be invited to come forward for their booster in line with guidance set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Visit https://tinyurl.com/mptw9u4a or call to 119 book an autumn Covid booster.
