Second Covid vaccine dose questions answered centre leaders

The second dose acts as a ‘booster’ jab to enhance immunity to the virus and offer a greater protection against infection.

Many in this situation will have questions, including whether you have to go to the same location as before and when your appointment will be.

To help, Dr Dan Bunstone and Dr Laura Mount, respective clinical directors of the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Orford Jubilee Hub vaccination centres, return to answer your questions.

Q. What age groups are currently being vaccinated?

A. Across Halton and Warrington, the NHS is vaccinating everyone who is aged over 56 or who is clinically extremely vulnerable, a paid or unpaid carer, a frontline health care worker or a resident in a care home.

Your GP practice will contact you for a local vaccination service appointment – at Orford Jubilee, the Halliwell Jones Stadium or your practice – or you can book an appointment at a one of the local pharmacy sites or the mass vaccination centre at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens via nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119.

Q. I haven’t got my appointment for my second vaccine. Do I need to call the national booking service?

A. Please only call the national booking service if you got your first vaccination at one of the pharmacy sites – at Appleton Pharmacy, Bewsey Pharmacy or Village Hotel – or at the mass vaccination site.

If you went to one of the GP sites or your practice, you will be contacted when it is your turn to get that second vaccination.

Second dose questions answered by Warrington’s vaccination centre leaders

The NHS would prefer patients to get their second vaccination at the same place where they had the first, because that is where the supplies of the vaccine will be sent.

We realise that is not always possible because perhaps you have moved to a new house. If this is the case, please let the NHS know by sending an eConsult to your GP practice.

Q. Why do I need to have a second dose? I only ever get one dose when I get the flu vaccination. Is the vaccine effective if I have only one dose?

A. Both vaccinations that are being used at the moment require two doses to be the most effective.

While a single dose of the vaccine does provide a good level of protection from the effects of Covid-19, the second dose is very important to ensure strong protection.

We would encourage all patients to attend for their second dose when offered an appointment.

Q. What happens if I am unable to attend my second dose appointment?

A. It is advised that the second dose is given no later than 12 weeks after the first, but it can be safely given later.

If there is an unavoidable delay, then please attend for your second dose when you can but let your GP practice know that you cannot attend your appointment.

Q. Do I have to have the same vaccine for my second dose as I did for the first?

A. Yes, all sites are working hard to ensure that all patients receive their second dose and that they get the same vaccine for both the first and second doses.

We are working really hard behind the scenes to make sure this will happen, which includes managing supplies of the vaccine to make sure that everyone gets a second dose.

Dr Dan Bunstone

Please make every effort to go back to the same place where you had your first vaccination for your second dose, as it will be ordered for you at this site.

Please be aware that pharmacy sites do not have the Pfizer vaccine and will not be able to do your second dose, so if this applies to you, please contact your GP practice.

Q. My employer has given us lateral flow tests to use twice a week. Once I have had both jabs, do I have to carry on with the testing?

A. Yes, people should continue with the programme of asymptomatic testing, even if they have had the covid vaccination.

Q. I have changed my mind and would now like to be vaccinated. Is this still possible?

A. Yes, and it is no problem at all. Please visit nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119.

Q. Can I just turn up at a site and get the vaccination?

A. No, all eligible people in the UK will be invited for a vaccination and the appointment will be arranged in advance.

There are no walk-in services available at hospitals, GP practices, pharmacies or any other vaccination site.

Q. Do I have to pay to have the vaccine?

A. No, the Covid-19 vaccination is free and is only available on the NHS.

If you are offered or see the vaccine being advertised anywhere as something you can pay for, it will be a scam and you should not follow it up.

The coronavirus vaccination site in Bewsey

At no point will you be asked to pay, asked for your bank account or card details, asked for your PIN or banking password or asked to send any personal documents.

The NHS will also never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.

Q. I have booked an appointment but my employer won’t allow me to attend. What should I do?

A. The Covid vaccination programme is vital for ensuring that we can all keep healthy and in work.

The Government has encouraged employers to allow staff to be flexible in allowing staff to attend for vaccine.

Please discuss the issue with your employer again, as it is very important that you have the vaccine, and show them this article if it helps.

If they still do not allow you to come, please call your practice or the national booking line and rearrange your appointment.

It is important that you always cancel an appointment that you cannot attend so that someone else can have the vaccine instead.

Q. Should people who have had cancer treatments, are recovering from a stroke or are on medications still have the vaccine?

A. Each patient will be different, so our advice is to have a discussion with your GP and agree with them after asking through eConsult.

They will be able to see any letters that your hospital consultant has sent and can agree with you what is best for you.

Second dose questions answered by Warrington’s vaccination centre leaders

Q. When I went for my vaccination, I was asked to prove my age? I have also heard this from other people who have been asked to prove that they have underlying health conditions or that they are carers.

A. If you are lucky enough to look under 18, we just need to double check your age as the vaccine might not be suitable for you.

Please do not be offended, as we are just making doubly-sure the vaccine is suitable for everyone who is having it.

In terms of being asked to prove that you have underlying health conditions, the letter you get from the NHS inviting you to book an appointment will act as this proof.

All sites must follow the guidance set out by the Government and only vaccinate people who are eligible.

For carers, it is a little more complicated to have the proof so you may be asked to confirm that you are someone who is eligible for carer’s allowance, or that you are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of Covid-19.

The checks that we have to make are to confirm that the person being cared for is at increased risk of Covid-19 and that you are their primary carer.

Q. There appears to be a lot of confusion about unpaid carers. Do I need to show that I am an unpaid carer to get my vaccine, and am I eligible?

A. There are a number of existing sources that the NHS and the local authorities are using to identify unpaid carers.

These include those in receipt of or entitled to a carer’s allowance; those known to GPs who have a carer’s flag on their primary care record; those known to the council who are in receipt of support following a carer’s assessment; and those known to local carers organisations to be actively receiving care and support.

Dr Laura Mount

If you are known to us, you should have been contacted by now either by text or letter to receive your vaccination.

If you go to one of the pharmacy sites or to the mass vaccination site, we would advise taking your letter to show the site that you are an unpaid carer.

If you go to a GP site, they will have this in your medical records.

If you are an unpaid carer and are not known to the NHS or to the council, you will need to request a vaccination.

The NHS and the council will need to be able to check that you are eligible and will need to record this in records.

If you think this is you, please contact your practice via eConsult, explain why you are the primary carer and ask for a carer’s flag to be put on your record.

You will then be able to have the vaccination either by calling 119, visiting nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by being invited to attend one of the GP sites.

Q. Are parents of children who have disabilities also eligible for the vaccination?

A. Parents or foster carers who look after children who are clinically vulnerable to Covid, such as children with severe neuro-disabilities or children who are designated clinically extremely vulnerable, are eligible for a vaccination.

Not all disabilities make a person vulnerable to Covid however, which is why the answer is not just ‘yes’.