Boris Johnson has told the nation Britain “must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” as he set the new deadline of jabbing everyone over 18 by the new year.
He said scientists had discovered that two doses of a vaccine is “simply not enough” to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant and that, without a lightning speed mass booster campaign, the NHS could be overwhelmed.
The mission to administer millions more jabs by December 31 will see 42 military planning teams deployed across every health region.
But what's happening with the booster roll-out in Dorset?
How many places are offering boosters in Dorset?
Health authorities have provided details on the all the current sites in Dorset offering Covid vaccinations as case rates across the county remain high.
Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group said it is working tirelessly to continue the roll out of the Covid vaccine programme.
Earlier this month a new large vaccination centre at Dorchester opened.
Read more: New Covid-19 vaccination centre opens in Dorset
Large vaccination centre (book via the national booking system)
- Kings Park Hospital, Bournemouth
- Vespasian House, Dorchester
Primary Care Network sites (pre-booking essential for all locations)
- The Blandford Group Practice
- Beaufort Road Surgery - Bookable via the national booking system
- East Way Clinic
- Christchurch Medical Practice - Bookable via the national booking system
- Talbot Medical Centre
- Westbourne Medical Centre
- Poole Ferry Port -‘North Lounge’ Passenger Terminal - Bookable via the national booking system
- St Leonards Hospital
- Hamworthy Club
- Wareham Hospital - Bookable via the national booking system
- Digby Hall, Sherborne
- Heatherview Medical Centre, Poole
- Marine and Oakridge Surgery, Bournemouth
- Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
- Weymouth Community Hospital
Pharmacies (book via the national booking system)
- Ashley Heath Pharmacy, Ashley Heath
- Day Lewis, Chickerell/Wessex Pharmacies, Weymouth
- C & M Chemists, Boscombe
- Bearwood Avicenna Pharmacy, Bournemouth
- Bryant Pharmacy, Poole
- Castle Lane Pharmacy, Bournemouth
- Colehill Pharmacy, Wimborne
- Pharmacy2U, Dorchester
- The Grove Pharmacy, Christchurch
- Wallisdown Pharmacy, Poole
- Highcliffe Pharmacy, Christchurch
- Beaminster Pharmacy, Beaminster
- Boots Pharmacy, 18-20 Commercial Road, Bournemouth
- Rowlands Pharmacy, 3 Tolpuddle Gardens, Bournemouth
- Well Pharmacy, 24 East Street, Bridport
Mapped: Where you can get a Covid vaccine in Dorset
Why don't we have a walk-in vaccination centre in Dorset?
When the large vaccination centre at the BIC in Bournemouth closed in the autumn, Dorset CCG claimed they were looking at other options.
In September, a spokesperson said: "The BIC has been a fantastic venue for the high volume of people we needed to vaccinate quickly but it was always a fixed term arrangement. We are now scoping out the venues we will need as we go into the autumn and prepare for phase three of the programme."
And earlier this month, Dr Andy Rutland, Dorset GP and clinical lead for the Dorset COVID-19 vaccination programme said plans to open a mass vaccination centre were under review.
Despite the large centre opening in Dorchester days later, Dorset as a county still does not have a walk-in centre.
What about Kings Park?
Dorset CCG said the vaccination centre at King’s Park in Boscombe is extremely busy and fully-booked until Christmas, though some cancellation appointments may become available.
More slots continue to be added all the time, but if the National Booking System doesn’t show the local centres this means all the available slots are currently taken.
What are the CCG doing?
When they announced the opening of the new site in Dorchester, Dr Andy Rutland, said: “We are currently doing some detailed planning as we work through the requirements set out by the government and NHS England.
“It’s a significant undertaking to once more step up our roll-out to the levels we saw at the start of the vaccination programme and one of our biggest challenges is recruiting the right staff.
“We know that some people have struggled to get an appointment locally and we now need to pull out all the stops to expand the service.
“Please be patient while we set everything up – our staff are working incredibly hard and will continue to do their best for the people of Dorset."
Have people been struggling to book boosters in Dorset?
In a word yes. As far back as a month ago, we were reporting on the difficulty people were having in getting a booster jab.
Some were being sent to Salisbury and Totton in Hampshire, with others having to wait almost a month for an appointment.
The CCG said at the time that demand for coronavirus booster jabs was 'extremely high'.
What about our MPs?
Dorset's MPs have already been reacting to news about the booster roll-out here.
And Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East called for a large vaccination centre to open in November.
He told the Daily Echo: “I’m going to push very hard to reinvigorate a hub for Dorset, given the success of what we saw at the BIC."
“It’s important that all members of Parliament lean into this,” he added.
Days later, Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West slammed Dorset CCG’s ‘concerning’ Covid-19 booster roll-out insisting that his constituents' prospects ‘remain bleak’ if nothing changes, in a letter to the Health Secretary.
In the letter, Mr Burns concludes that the booster programme “in both the BCP and Dorset Council areas is unable to cope with demand”.
What are the health services calling for?
Earlier this month we reported on a call for vaccinators in Dorset.
Experienced healthcare assistants, qualified healthcare professionals and people who had worked in similar roles, were needed to protect local people of all ages from Covid-19 and flu.
The winter vaccination programme includes:
- Covid-19 booster vaccinations
- Covid-19 vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds
- Flu vaccinations, including school aged children and young people
How can I book a booster jab?
Those who are eligible can book their COVID-19 booster appointment by visiting the national booking system website (www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination) or calling 119.
For more information on walk-in sites please visit the NHS website (www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site)
Which vaccine will I get?
You will be given a booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (AstraZeneca may be an option if this is the vaccine that you had for the first two doses).
You will be offered the right vaccine for you which may be the same or different from the vaccines that you had before.
How many boosters have been given out in Dorset?
Last week, we reported around 30,000 boosters are given every week across Dorset - data shows 254,250 people across the county had received their booster jab or third dose of the coronavirus vaccine by December 7.
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