Covid-19 Vaccination

Autumn boosters

In September 2022, we will be offering patients in the below groups an Autumn booster of the Covid vaccination.

You will receive an invitation from us when we have vaccine available.

The booster vaccine will be BIVALENT MODERNA SPIKEVAX or PFIZER BIVALENT

• Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• Frontline health and social care workers
• All adults aged 50 years and over
• Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group (see below)
• Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression (see below)
• Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers (see criteria below)

We are continuing to run small children’s clinics, please contact reception for an appointment (if you are an Essex House patient) or contact your own surgery if you are registered at Glebe Road, Sheen Lane or Richmond Medical Group).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible for an Autumn 2022 booster?

Final JCVI confirms that the COVID-19 Autumn booster should be offered to the following groups:
• Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• Frontline health and social care workers
• All adults aged 50 years and over
• Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
• Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book

What are the clinical risk groups?

Chronic respiratory disease	Individuals with a severe lung condition, including those with poorly controlled asthma Poorly controlled asthma is defined as: – ≥2 courses of oral corticosteroids (prednisolone) in the preceding 24 months OR – on maintenance oral corticosteroids (prednisolone) OR – ≥1 hospital admission for asthma in the preceding 24 monthschronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Chronic heart disease and vascular disease	Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease. This includes individuals with atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or a history of venous thromboembolism.
Chronic kidney disease	Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation. Chronic liver disease Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis.
Chronic neurological disease	Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised due to neurological or neuromuscular disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers). This group also includes individuals with cerebral palsy, severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), Down’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.
Diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders	Any diabetes, including diet-controlled diabetes, current gestational diabetes,and Addison’s disease
Immunosuppression	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). 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.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. 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. Some immunosuppressed patients may have a suboptimal immunological response to the vaccine (see Immunosuppression and HIV).
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen	This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as homozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome.
Morbid obesity	Adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m².
Severe mental illness	Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment.
Younger adults in long-stay nursing and residential care settings	Many younger adults in residential care settings will be eligible for vaccination because they fall into one of the clinical risk groups above (for example learning disabilities). Given the likely high risk of exposure in these settings, where a high proportion of the population would be considered eligible, vaccination of the whole resident population is recommended. Younger residents in care homes for the elderly will be at high risk of exposure, and although they may be at lower risk of mortality than older residents should not be excluded from vaccination programmes (see priority 1 above).
Pregnancy	All stages (first, second and third trimesters)

Household contacts of people with immunosuppression	Individuals who expect to share living accommodation on most days (and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable) with individuals who are immunosuppressed (defined as immunosuppressed above).
Carers	Those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable.

Do I have to leave time between by flu and booster covid vaccines?

No, these can be given on the same day or at any interval. However, for logistical and delivery reasons we are not running combined covid-flu clinics.

There must be 7 days a between the Shingles and covid vaccine.

Can I get proof of vaccination?

You can download the NHS app or call 119 to be sent a paper copy of your vaccine record. Please do not contact your GP surgery regarding this. Evidence is ONLY required for international travel at this time. This information is not taken from your GP record, so if you had a vaccine in another country it will not show on the app, even if it is added to your GP record. We have no way of getting these to appear on the app.

We are no longer issuing or updating vaccination cards as these cannot be used as evidence. The NHS app and paper version you can receive by calling 119 is the only official evidence that is required.

Is there parking?

We have a limited number of parking spaces at the Surgery. If you are able to walk or cycle, this is preferable.

Will my GP be notified of the vaccine if I get it at Essex House and I’m not a registered patient?

A record of your vaccination will automatically go to your GP record, regardless of where you are registered. This can sometimes take a few days.

Can I choose which vaccine I have?

No.

Will I be required to wait after my vaccine?

You do not need to wait on site after receiving a vaccine.

Can I have my second dose early if I am going away/on holiday?

No. Vaccines will be given in line with government guidance.

I have lots of questions regarding the vaccine, can I discuss these when I come to the vaccine clinic?

The clinic is intended for receiving the vaccination only. Staff are able to advise you briefly regarding side effects and will ask you screening questions to ensure that you are safe to receive the vaccine.

If you have in-depth questions regarding your personal medical history and the vaccine, then you should discuss these with a healthcare professional at your registered practice prior to attending the vaccination clinic.

Patient information leaflets can be found here:

Bivalent Moderna Spikevax

Astra Zeneca

Pfizer BioNtech

Pregnancy and the covid vaccine

What side effects can I expect?

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short term, and not everyone gets them. Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, you still need to have the second dose.

Although you may get some protection from the first dose, having the second dose will give you the best protection against the virus.

Very common side effects include:
• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1-2 days after the vaccine.
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms

These are the symptoms that we expect you to experience and indicate that your body is having an immune response to the vaccine.

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.

An uncommon side effect is swelling of the glands. You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better.

These symptoms normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, contact the Surgery. If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination so that they can assess you properly.

You can also report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the official Yellow Card scheme.
You can do this online by visiting the Coronavirus Yellow Card or by downloading the Yellow Card app.

Is there any reason I shouldn’t attend for the vaccine?

If you are currently unwell with a fever or any symptoms of Covid-19 then you should not attend for the vaccine and should delay until you are well.

If you have recently had Covid 19 then you should wait 28 days before receiving the vaccine.

If you have had an allergic reaction to any vaccine then you should volunteer this information on arrival at the vaccination centre.

If you have an allergy to Polyethylene glycol then you should not receive the Pfizer vaccine.

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Live Well

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