School Lane SurgeryAs we embrace spring, we’re excited to share important information about the COVID booster program. Your health and well-being remain our top priority, and we’re committed to ensuring a safe and efficient vaccination process to keep you and our community safe.
Here are the details of the Spring Booster Programme for 2024…….
Can I have a booster?
For this programme only those most at risk will be offered a booster. This is different from previous COVID boosters following national advice from the NHS. For the Spring Booster the following patients will be eligible for a free vaccination
- Residents in Care Homes: If you or your loved ones reside in a CQC Registered care home for older adults, you’ll eligible for the booster dose irrespective of your age. We will be arranging this directly with the homes with a date when we come in and vaccinate. For patients who are residents in other settings you will only be eligible if you fall into one of the other groups (i.e., over 75yrs old or immunosuppressed).
- Housebound Patients: If you are aged over 75yrs old &/or are immunosuppressed then you will be eligible for a booster. If you are housebound for another reason, then you will not be eligible. We understand that some patients may face mobility challenges. Our team will reach out to housebound individuals to ensure they receive the booster at home. What we would ask is to make sure we are only attending those most in need if you or your loved one is able to attend the clinic for a booster.
Please note that being housebound does not make you eligible for the vaccine. You need to be aged 75yrs and over or be immunosuppressed (please see below)
- Aged 75 and Over: If you’re 75 years or older, you’re eligible for the spring booster. If you turn 75yrs on or before the 30th June 2024, you will be eligible for a booster.
- Immunosuppressed or those with a weakened immune system: Individuals aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system are also eligible. For completeness the full list is below:
Aged 16yrs and over
o Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g. IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).
o Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.
o Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day for adults.
o Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Those who require long term immunosuppressive treatment for conditions including, but not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma and psoriasis.
Aged 16 years and under (to 6 months old)
o those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients.
o genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g., deficiencies of IRAK-4 or NEMO, complement disorder, SCID)
o those with haematological malignancy, including leukaemia and lymphoma.
o those receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy.
o those treated with or likely to be treated with high or moderate dose corticosteroids.
o those receiving any dose of non-biological oral immune modulating drugs e.g., methotrexate, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine or mycophenolate.
o those with auto-immune diseases who may require long term immunosuppressive treatments Children who are about to receive planned immunosuppressive therapy should be considered for vaccination prior to commencing therapy.
Will you be vaccinating Children who are eligible?
No. Due to strict guidelines from Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (NWICB) we will not be permitted to vaccinate anyone under the age of 18 years old. If your child is eligible then you will need to book into specific clinics on the National Booking System (NBS) or by calling 119 to book an appointment.
When will you start vaccinating?
The programme runs from 15th April to the 30th June 2024. For those most at risk (Care Home and Housebound patients), we will be starting those weeks commencing 15th April. Clinics. For all other groups will be held week commencing 22nd April 2024.
What vaccine will you be using?
Moderna mRNA (Spikevax) XBB.1.5 vaccine. This has been used in the previous Autumn Booster campaign.
How do I book a booster?
This will depend on what group you fall into.
- Care Home – We are already in contact with our local care homes to arrange a date when we will be able to come in and vaccinate those patients who wish to have a booster.
- Housebound – We will be contacting those patients who are housebound to arrange a date when we can come and provide a booster. Given the scale of this and the numbers involved, if it is at all possible for those who have friends or family to support and could bring you to one of the clinics, that would help.
- Over 75yrs and Immunosuppressed – You will be able to book via the NBS or by calling 119 as with previous campaigns.
- Under 18yrs old & Immunosuppressed – We will not be able to vaccinate you at our clinic. Please use the NBS or call 119 to arrange this.
All eligible patients will receive an invite or a call from the surgery to offer a vaccine (those in a care home, we will liaise directly with the homes themselves). There is no need to call the surgery to book an appointment as we will contact you either via SMS or phone. You can book an appointment via calling 119 or the NBS.
Where will the clinics be held?
The clinics will be at the Healthy Living Centre, Croxton Road, Thetford, IP24 2JD(HLC). Please be aware that it will not be at the same location as previous COVID clinics. This is because the rooms previously used are now in use by others. You will be directed to the new clinic rooms on arrival at the HLC.
All clinics will be booked via the NBS or by calling 119.
Is ‘Jab Cab’ running again?
No. Unfortunately the ‘Jab Cab’ scheme is not running for the spring campaign.
What if I am not well on the day of my appointment?
If you are unwell, wait until you have recovered to have your vaccine. You should not attend an appointment if you have a fever or think you might be infectious to others.
Will this vaccine stop me catching COVID?
No. No vaccine is 100% effective. What the vaccine does do is provide the best possible protection for you from COVID. If you are unlucky enough to still catch COVID after the vaccine, then the symptoms are usually less severe. After the vaccine it will take a few days for your body to develop protection from COIVD.
We hope that you have found this useful but if you have any questions, then do please feel free to contact the surgery.