Swindon Borough Council encourage residents to get covid booster jab when asked

Director of Public Health, Steve Maddern, is reminding Swindon people about booster vaccine invitations that will arrive in the post.

Mr Maddern said from Friday 24 September, invitations for covid-19 booster vaccines have been sent out by the NHS across Swindon to all those currently eligible for a third dose.

Priority groups 1-9 who received the vaccination in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, are currently eligible. This includes people over 50, health and social care workers, care home residents and people aged between 16 and 64 with an underlying health condition.

The invitations, which will arrive in the form of a nationally-circulated letter or a text from a local GP practice, will encourage people to book their appointments through the National Booking Service. Using the service will allow people to choose to have their vaccine at the site most convenient to them, which in some cases may be different from where their first two jabs were given.

Mr Maddern added: "We know that many people are keen to keep their covid-19 immunity topped up, and this is fantastic to see - but the NHS do ask that those expecting a booster vaccine wait to be contacted, as invitations will only be sent six months after the date of a person’s last vaccination, with those who had their vaccines early being called up first."

"If you have symptoms of covid-19, make sure you arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. This still applies even if you have received one or more doses of a covid-19 vaccine."

PCR tests can be applied for, free of charge at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Swindon Borough Council have also released updates around the covid case and vaccination rates for Swindon. 

From 14 September - 20 September, the council found there were 688 new covid-19 cases in Swindon, up from 534 the previous week. As of Friday 24 September, the covid-19 case rate in Swindon was 309 per 100k, up from 240 the previous week. The South West average was 239 per 100k, while the England average was 285 per 100k. In addition, a further 230 residents were found to have had their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of people aged 18 and over vaccinated with the first dose to 163,293 (85.2%). A total of 3,576 residents were found to have had their second dose of the covid-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of Swindon residents aged 18 and over who are fully vaccinated to 153,730 (80.2%). Swindon Borough Council also wish to remind members of the public that there will be an AstraZeneca walk-in vaccine clinic at Sanford House (Sanford Street, SN1 1HE) on Tuesday 28 September from 3pm-7pm.  The clinic will only be open to those aged over 18 who require a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. There is no need to book.  More information about future vaccine clinics can be found on the council's website at https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20129/emergency_comms/1094/coronavirus_covid-19_-_what_you_need_to_know