THE spring drive to boost our immunity against COVID-19 has kicked off in Dorset with a second booster dose available for the most at risk groups.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised a spring jab should be offered to adults over 75, care home residents for older adults and those aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed.
Dorset’s network of vaccination centres, community pharmacies and primary care networks will be administering jabs to people in the eligible groups who receive their invites from the NHS.
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You will usually be offered an appointment around six months after your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine and your vaccination may be offered to you by a service other than your GP.
A total of 29 sites will offer jabs from April 1, and vaccination programme leads are planning additional pop-up sites to give a wide coverage across Dorset.
As well as running the spring booster programme they’ll also be giving the opportunity for anyone who has not yet had their earlier jabs to grab them now.
Professor Dawn Dawson, director of nursing at Dorset HealthCare, which is managing the vaccination programme with system partners, said:
“As we have done throughout the programme, the Dorset health and care system is working closely together to provide a range of locations for people to get their vaccine.
“We have a high number of cases of COVID-19 in our communities right now so it’s all the more important we continue to protect ourselves, particularly those who are most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill.”
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There will be special arrangements to visit residents of care homes for older adults and those who are housebound and eligible for the vaccination.
Anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and has not had all their vaccinations should have them as soon as possible. You may need another booster as well as your usual flu injection in the autumn.
You can book via the national booking system online or by calling 119.
There are also walk-in appointments available at a number of locations - visit the NHS website to find a vaccination site.
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