Patients over 40 years of age and those with chronic conditions
The surgery has recently completed an intense vaccination programme to provide the booster vaccination to patients at risk due to existing chronic conditions and all those patients over 40 years of age. This programme was run by surgery staff in the surgery building with clinical oversight and support from the staff at Midland House Derby. We extend our thanks to them for their assistance.
As a result of this first programme, the surgery was able to vaccinate around two thirds (800) of the eligible population at that time. Any patients missing this opportunity can be provided with the vaccination locally either at the Ikhlas Centre Normanton or Midland House Derby. The surgery can assist with further details if required.
Changes to eligibility for the booster vaccination
The latest guidelines (December 2021) issued by the Government has increased the eligibility for the vaccine as follows:
- Booster vaccination eligibility should be expanded to include all adults aged 18 years to 39 years
- Booster vaccination should now be offered in order of descending age groups, with priority given to the vaccination of older adults and those in a COVID-19 at-risk group
- Booster vaccination can now be given 3 months after the second dose
- Severely immunosuppressed individuals who have completed their primary course (three doses) should be offered a booster dose with a minimum of three months between the third primary and booster dose. Those who have not yet received their third dose may be given the third dose now to avoid further delay. A further booster dose can be given in three months, in line with the clinical advice on optimal timing
- Children and young people aged 12 to 15 years should be offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a minimum of 12 weeks from the first dose
There are no immediate plans to run a second vaccination programme from within the surgery and we will be making patients aware of the services offered by the Ikhlas Centre and Midland House as the various groups of patients become eligible. This will comprise text messaging mainly but also patient letters and phone calls to those who may need extra assistance.
We will contact patients as they become eligible and there is no need to contact the NHS.