COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Update – 14th Mar 2021
Dear Patients,
Our COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at Chancellors Hotel continues to progress ahead of schedule, with invitations sent out in the last week for patients in JCVI priority groups 7,8 and 9 (i.e. all those aged 50 and above).
All of our patients in Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority groups 1 through to 9 should have now received a text message inviting them to book a vaccination appointment online, if they have a mobile phone registered with us. This includes everyone aged 50 and above, plus patients with underlying health conditions and their carers.
For those without a mobile phone we will attempt to ring each and every person on their landline numbers to invite them. This is a process that takes a significant amount of time, particular as the numbers of patients get much larger as we move down the age groups. Given the fact that many of our clinical and admin staff are working at the vaccination centre itself, it will take us quite some time to ring through this group of people, so your patience during this time is much appreciated.
Second dose vaccinations
The process of booking people in for their second vaccinations, to complete the course and provide longer lasting protection, has now begun. Second doses will be given approximately 12 weeks after the first, and you will be contacted directly by our service to invite you to book in for your second dose, so please do not contact us to ask before this time. You will be given the same vaccine as your first dose and, in line with government regulations, this must be given by the same service who gave your first dose – so please do not ask us for your second dose if you had your first at the hospital or mass vaccination centre.
People aged 50 and above
We have now reached the invitation stage for JCVI priority group 9 (50yrs+). If you are aged 50 and above, and have not already received an invitation, please ring us on 0161 445 9000 and we will be happy to arrange an appointment for you. We ask that you ring after 2pm any weekday for this purpose to allow us to deal with sick patients who need to get through on the phone lines in the earlier part of the day.
People with underlying health conditions
Those in JCVI priority group 6, i.e. individuals aged 16 years and above with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease, have also been invited by text. If you have one of the health conditions included below, and are yet to receive a text invitation please ring us on 0161 445 9000 to arrange your appointment:
- a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
- diabetes
- dementia
- a heart problem
- a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
- a kidney disease
- a liver disease
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
- rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis (who may require long term immunosuppressive treatments)
- who have had an organ transplant
- have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- a neurological or muscle wasting condition
- a severe or profound learning disability
- a problem with the spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or those who have had their spleen removed
- have a BMI of above 40
- are severely mentally ill
Important notice for patients with asthma: the criteria given by the JCVI regarding eligibility for asthma patients can be found here: asthma.org.uk/explaining-the-vaccination-priority-groups
Unpaid carers
Unpaid carers also fall within JCVI priority group 6. The government defines this group as “those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill”. If this definition includes you, and you haven’t received a vaccination invitation from us, please fill in the following form to let us know that you are the sole or main carer of a vulnerable individual, with a brief description of what your caring duties involve: /navigator/register-a-carer/
General information
For more information on the NHS priority groups for Covid vaccination please see: www.gov.uk//joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination please see our FAQ factsheet: /practice_news/covid-19-vaccination-faq/
For more information about what to expect on the day of your COVID-19 vaccination please see this link: /practice_news/your-covid-19-vaccination-appointment/
Thank you all for your support and understanding during this unprecedented situation. We understand that many of you are frustrated by delays in accessing services. We are all doing the very best that we can under extremely difficult circumstances as the demands on our service soar at a time when we are attempting to deliver the largest vaccination programme in the country’s history. Please be assured that for the past year and into the future we are all working flat out and well beyond our contracted hours in order to keep our services running.
We are also fully aware of the huge numbers of people on NHS waiting lists awaiting appointments and/or treatments, and how frustrating and distressing this can be. It is thought that approximately 1 in 4 people in Greater Manchester are currently on an NHS waiting list so you are certainly not alone or forgotten. Unfortunately we do not have any influence over hospital waiting times and clinics, and are unable to help with chasing up appointments due to the huge strains on our service. If your appointment is well overdue please contact the hospital service directly to chase this up. Please do not contact us about hospital appointments unless your condition has worsened significantly.
Warmest regards,
Barlow Medical Centre