Updated 5th September 2022

Preparations are underway at our large-scale Covid vaccination sites across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Waveney to start delivering the autumn Covid-19 booster campaign from 12th September 2022.

The National Booking Service (NBS) will open on 7^th September with those most susceptible to serious illness from Covid-19 and those aged 75 and over invited by the NHS to book an appointment online or by ringing 119 free of charge (as long as it has been three months since their last dose).

The programme will then extend to other eligible groups through to December 2022. The NHS will contact people from eligible cohorts when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine – people do not need to contact the NHS.

Those eligible for an autumn booster will be able to book an appointment at one of the 10 large-scale Covid vaccination sites across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Waveney which, from Monday 12^th September, will be open seven days a week from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm and some evenings until 7.30 pm. Please note that there is no change to our current advertised opening hours prior to 12^th September, please see our social media channels for more details.

People who are immunosuppressed can also choose to walk-in for their autumn booster, bringing with them a GP or consultant letter, or prescription that identifies their immunosuppressed status.

Some patients may be invited to have their vaccination at a local GP-led site. A number of pharmacies in the area will also offer the autumn booster to eligible patients.

Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for an autumn booster in line with guidance set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This includes:

• 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 – this includes pregnant women
• 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

NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound from early September 2022.

Dr David Vickers, Medical Director, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, explained:

“Our fantastic staff and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to administer more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine to date and a great deal of work has been going on behind the scenes as we’ve once again been preparing to deliver the latest phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

“When the time comes, I’d strongly encourage anyone who’s invited to take up the autumn booster to do so as quickly as possible as this will help to maximise your protection this winter.

Dr Fiona Head, Medical Director of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, added:

“I want to thank health and care colleagues who have done a fantastic job delivering well over 2 million Covid vaccinations in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. These vaccinations protect people and our local communities from severe Covid disease.

“If you are eligible for an autumn Covid-19 booster, please come forward when you are invited to do so by the NHS. It is really important you get the autumn Covid booster as this will help reduce your risks from Covid-19 as we head into the colder months.

“At the same time, I want to remind everyone who is yet to have their first or second dose that it is not too late. You can still book your first or second vaccination online or by calling 119. If you’d rather walk in to get your jab, you can find the latest walk-in clinics near you via www.thevaccinators.co.uk.

“Getting a flu jab is also important this autumn, so if you are asked for a flu vaccination, please take up the offer.”

Kate Keeling, Head of Immunisation Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, said:

“NHS staff are working hard to prepare for the rollout of the Covid-19 autumn booster programme and the annual flu vaccine.

“Just as with previous rounds of the Covid vaccination programme, the autumn booster will be offered first to the most vulnerable and/or the oldest members of our population and will then be rolled out to the rest of the eligible population between mid-September and December.

“Vaccinations for flu and Covid-19 booster will be offered at a range of sites, including GP practices, local pharmacies, hospital hubs, and large vaccination centres.

“It is important that you wait for the NHS to contact you before you book in for either of your vaccinations.”

End

Editors’ notes:

Those who have recently recovered from Covid should still come forward for their vaccination as having had the virus does not give the same levels of protection.

Anyone over 18 and those aged 5-17 who are in a clinical risk group (or live with someone who is immunosuppressed) who have had Covid will need to wait four weeks before being vaccinated, or 12 weeks for those aged 5 to 17.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough large-scale vaccination centres:

From Monday 12^th September, our large-scale vaccination centres will be open seven days a week from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm and late evenings at some of the following locations:

• Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1AR 
• The Grafton Centre, Cambridge CB1 1PS
• The Eatons Community Centre, Eaton Socon, St Neots PE19 8ES
• The Oaktree Centre, 1 Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN
• Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough PE1 1NT
• Chesterton Indoor Bowls Centre, Logan’s Way, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1BL

Further information including later evening openings is available at www.thevaccinators.co.uk

Norfolk large-scale vaccination centres

From Monday 12^th September, our large-scale vaccination centres will be open seven days a week from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm and late evenings at some of the following locations:

• Paddock Road Surgery, Paddock Road, Harleston IP20 9AT
• Connaught Hall, Station Rd, Attleborough NR17 2AS
• Norwich City Council HQ, St Peters Street, Norwich NR2 1NH
• Shakespeare Barn, King's Lynn Arts Centre, King Street, Kings Lynn PE30 1HA (only open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30am to 4.00 pm and on Tuesdays from 8.30am to 7.30pm)

Information on evening openings is available here: https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/WalkIn/Form/AllAvailableClinics

Contact:

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Communications Team via ccs.communications@nhs.net