COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

Across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes we have over 40 vaccination sites. These range from local GPs and pharmacies to community venues and large vaccination centres.

The vaccine offer is evergreen so if you want your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine then you can book or walk in now.

Walk-in sites

Book online

Monday 15 November – extension to the vaccination programme

16 – 17 year olds and second doses – The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended on Monday 15 November that those aged 16 and 17 should become eligible for a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from 12 weeks after their final primary dose.

The NHS will contact people in this age group directly to let them know when it is their turn to get their second dose, however, the National Booking Service has now been enabled for second dose bookings by 16-17 year olds or they can call 119, walk-ins will be made available later.

Booster doses for over 40s – The extension of booster jabs to those aged 40-49 (cohort 10) was recommended by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on Monday 15 November. The NHS will contact people in this age group directly to let them know when it is their turn to get their booster vaccine, but the National Booking Service has now been enabled so that bookings by this newly eligible group can be made online or calling 119.

You will find details below of the vaccine offers for different patient groups:

Children aged 12-15 years

The NHS is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all children aged 12 to 15 years across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

We want to make it easy for children to access one dose of the vaccine before the winter. It will provide protection to the children and it may also help to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the wider population. Parents or guardians of children aged 12 to 15 will receive letters from their child’s school who are offering the COVID-19 vaccine as part of it’s School Aged Immunisation Service (SAIS). Parents and guardians are also invited to attend a local vaccination centre with their 12 to 15 year old to get their vaccination outside of school.

You can book an appointment for your child online via the National Booking System.

Some children who have a condition that means they’re at high risk from COVID-19, or live with someone who is likely to get infections, will be contacted when it’s their turn to get the vaccine and be offered a second dose, but in the meantime if you have any questions, please email [email protected]

For further information on the Booster and 12- 15 year old programmes please check out our FAQs

Vaccination of home-schooled children aged 12 – 15 years

If your child is educated at home, you will be contacted by the SAIS team who will arrange appointments to dispense the vaccination.

If you are concerned that your child may not be registered please check with your local education department, and make sure they are included in the programme.

Young people aged 16 and 17

The NHS is offering a first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 16 and 17.

You can book your appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now, or walk-in to one of our friendly walk-in clinics, with no appointment necessary. Walk-ins for second doses will be made available later.

People aged 18 and over

You can get your first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re aged 18 or over (or will turn 18 within 3 months). The offer of a vaccination is evergreen, so anyone who has who previously declined can still get their vaccine.

You can book your appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now, or walk-in to one of our friendly walk-in clinics, with no appointment necessary.

Booster Programme

The COVID-19 booster programme is now live across BLMK. Full details of how to access the programme can be found on our dedicated booster programme page, including booster vaccination sites. Remember, there must be a minimum of six months (182 days) from the second vaccination to the booster dose.

We know vaccines give high levels of protection, though immunity naturally reduces over time, so it is vital for you, if you are eligible, to come forward to get your COVID-19 booster vaccine to top-up your defences and protect yourself and your family members this winter.

You will be invited to get your COVID-19 booster jab if you are:

• Over 40
• A frontline health and social care worker
• An older adult in a residential care home
• Aged 16-49 with an underlying health condition which puts you at greater risk of severe COVID
• An adult sharing a home with vulnerable people

If you have not been contacted within a week of reaching six months since your second jab and you fall into one of the above categories, you can either walk in to one of vaccination centres, call 119 or book yourself an appointment online via the National Booking System.

The online National Booking Service will now allow people without an invitation to book a booster vaccine once 152 days have passed since their last vaccination. You’ll be offered an appointment date from 182 days (6 months) after the date of your second dose.

Third primary dose vaccination

The JCVI has advised that everyone aged 12 years and over, who was severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second COVID-19 vaccine doses, is offered a third vaccination dose.

This is different to a booster vaccination because there is evidence that some individuals who are immunosuppressed due to underlying health conditions or medical treatment may not mount a full immune response to their first two COVID-19 vaccinations. These patients are therefore being offered a third dose, ideally 8 weeks after their second dose and at a time of minimum immunosuppression, if possible. They will also be eligible for a booster 6 months later as well, so in effect will be given four doses of the vaccine.

Patients who are eligible for a third dose will receive an invite from the NHS. Once they have the letter, patients may go to any of the large vaccination centres without an appointment, but they must bring the invitation letter with them.

More information is available here: JCVI issues advice on third dose vaccination for severely immunosuppressed – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Pregnant women

Women who are pregnant or think they might be, breastfeeding or trying for a baby or might get pregnant in the future. Read more about the vaccine and women of childbearing age here.

Please book or walk-in to one of our friendly walk-in clinics, with no appointment necessary. To help make the process a little easier, when a pregnant woman arrives at a drop-in session at one of the large vaccination centres they can make themselves known to a member of staff who will then fast-track them through so they don’t have to wait too long. This should be especially useful when centres are busy.

Help with transportation to a vaccination centre – Vaxi Taxi

Have you have booked your COVID-19 vaccination or plan on attending one of our vaccination walk-up sites but find the cost of the travel a barrier to attending the appointment?

Our colleagues in Public Health recognise that the cost of travel can be a barrier to getting vaccinated. In an effort to improve vaccination uptake it is now possible to book a FREE taxi to and/or from your vaccination appointment or walk-in site.

The Vaxi Taxi service is available in:

Bedford Borough
Central Bedfordshire
Luton

Each link has full details of the service operating in your area.

Housebound people who need their vaccine/booster.

If you are housebound you will be contacted by your GP who will arrange a visit. If you have not heard from them within the recommended timescale

• immediately for 1st dose,
• 8 weeks after 1st vaccination for 2nd dose
• 6 months since the second dose for the booster

please contact your GP Practice to request a visit.

COVID-19 Vaccination Leaflet

Download the leaflet in English
Download the leaflet in Polish
Download the leaflet in Romanian
Download the leaflet in Pashtu
Download the leaflet in Arabic
Download the leaflet in Farsi

Public Health vaccination calls

The Public Health teams at Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes councils are calling local people who have not yet had their vaccine.

Whilst vaccination rates are good in BLMK, every vaccination counts in helping to protect us all. Since Wednesday 11 August, they have been calling unvaccinated residents to understand if there are barriers to them getting vaccinated that they can help with. Perhaps, the patient is not sure how to book, or they want some more information, or they want to talk to a GP.

The call handlers will not have access to the recipient’s medical records and will not be discussing any medical issues, but they can arrange for them to be called by a dedicated GP if they have any concerns.

If they are unable to reach the patient by phone, they will send a text message or email. The messages will be from this number 01462 754070 and will be marked from MK CBC Beds. Emails and SMS will clearly say they are from the local council.

The call handlers will not ask for any personal or financial information, however they will require personal details in order to book vaccinations using the national booking system. If anyone receives a call and has any concerns about whether it is from the team, please call 01462 754070  to check.

An equivalent service is currently being undertaken Luton.

Timing between 1^st and 2^nd doses of the vaccine

Although the majority of protection comes from the first dose, having your second dose is still extremely important too as it will improve and prolong your immunity – so please don’t skip your second dose. You will need to wait 56 days between the first and second dose.

As set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) a period of 56 days (8 weeks) from the first dose must have passed before a second dose can be given.  We are therefore unable to administer doses before this period has elapsed.

A longer period can take place between doses if it is not possible to attend at the 8 week timescale.

Vaccination record queries

Vaccination records should appear in your medical records in GP systems within 48 hours of the entry into the point of care system.

If you believe there is information missing from your vaccination record (more than 48 hours after the vaccination event) or if you see incorrect information on the vaccine record, our team can investigate this for you.

The quickest way is to email: [email protected] with the following details:

• Your name
• Date of birth
• NHS number
• A photo of your vaccination card
• Location of where you had your vaccines

And we can look into your query and get back to you.

Second doses of the vaccination

Some people may be feeling concerned that they haven’t received an appointment for their second dose yet, we are now offering walk-ins for second doses. Once eight weeks have passed from your first dose you can walk in for your second dose.  We have some helpful information on our website which should help: https://www.blmkccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/second-vaccination-doses/

A leaflet explaining more about the vaccine and answering some of your questions, is available to download here.

Large vaccination sites in BLMK which are booked via http://www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119

Vaccination centres in BLMK which are booked via http://www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119. If the large vaccination site closest to you is unavailable, this may be due to the current slots being fully booked. If you do not want to book an alternative centre, please continue to check regularly as new appointments will be released.

GP led vaccination sites

If the vaccination centre closest to you is unavailable, this may be due to the current slots being fully booked. If you do not want to book an alternative centre, please continue to check regularly as new appointments will be released.

Appointments at these sites are accessed by contacting your GP practice.

A vaccine guide for A guide for women who might get pregnant, who are pregnant or are breastfeeding their baby, is available here. An easy-read vaccination guide is available to download here.

An easy-read guide on what to expect after your vaccination, is available to download here.

An easy-read vaccination consent form for adults ia available to download here.

A leaflet explaining why you may have to wait for the coronavirus vaccine is available to download here.

A poster showing the priority list for the coronavirus vaccine is available to download here.