Coronavirus Information

Update on the COVID-19 Booster Programme

The NHS and its partners are working extremely hard to roll out the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme to our communities.

All adults are now eligible to book via the National Booking System.

You can get your booster 12 weeks after your second vaccine. We are working at pace to increase the availability of appointments so that there are plenty of options for people on the National Booking System. Some local vaccination services will also contact patients directly. New appointments are being added every day across our vaccination services.

We will be working with all of our sites to take further steps to increase what they can offer again, including opening later and on more days. All of these appointments will be added to the National Booking System and so we encourage everyone who is aged 18 and over, is yet to have their booster and who is approaching 12 weeks from your second vaccine to use the National Booking System to arrange your appointment when you are able to do so.

In terms of any planned appointments with The Whickham Practice, there are no changes at the current time and everyone should attend your planned appointments as normal. If we need to make any changes, we will contact you directly.

See more about the vaccination programme, including the vaccination services: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

We are working with our partners in the west of Gateshead to vaccinate our patients against Covid-19.

Please do not attend your Covid-19 appointment if you have symptoms of covid (persistent cough, fever, loss of sense of taste/smell) or if you are currently self isolating due to a positive test result.

Serious reactions to the vaccine are rare. Just like any vaccine you may experience soreness or skin irritation at the injection site. You may also get side effects such as headache, fatigue, mild fever, muscle and joint aches. These will tend to be short lived. It is not a live vaccine and you cannot catch covid-19 from having the injection. Click here to see all adverse reactions to approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Those with bleeding disorders should speak to their healthcare team before having the vaccine. You should also wait for 7 days after having any other vaccine before having the Covid-19 vaccine.

Click Here to read more about the side effects of the Covid-19 Vaccine.

Please do not telephone the surgery with queries about the COVID vaccine. You will be contacted when you are due to receive it or you can book online.

If you book online, The booking site will ask you for your name, date of birth, NHS number (or postcode if you don’t know your NHS number), phone number and email. The NHS will never verify your identity by asking for bank details or ask for payment; this vaccine is free and in the UK can only be given by the NHS.

If you are unable to book via the link, this will mean that the clinics are full. Please be patient and wait for further dates to be added.

Any questions regarding allergies will be dealt with by the Health Care Professional at the time of vaccination.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme, please visit the NHS website.

COVID-19 VACCINE RESEARCH

Newcastle NHS is running COVID-19 vaccine research & looking for volunteers.

To find out more sign up to our local Research+Me registry. Sign up is quick, safe and secure.

Visit: https://nhsnewcastle-redcap.net/surveys/?s=4XJFWTNJEL&dag=cbc_health

The booster programme has been approved by the JCVI.

JCVI statement regarding COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme for Winter 2021 to 2022.

Those who are eligible to receive the booster vaccine include:

Those living in residential care homes for older adults.
All adults aged 18 years or over.
Frontline health and social care workers.
All those aged 16 or over with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers.
Adult household contacts (aged 16 or over) of immunosuppressed individuals.

Further important information:

Pfizer or Moderna is the preferred vaccine for the booster dose, regardless of which vaccine type the patient had for their 1^st/2^nd dose (unless contraindicated for Pfizer/Moderna)
The booster dose must be given no earlier than two months from completion of the second dose.

Click on link below to book:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

NHS Covid Passport

Just like a normal passport, make sure to leave plenty of time before you set off on holiday to apply for your Vaccine Passport. If you’re getting the NHS App for the first time, it can take some time for your identity to be verified.

If you’re not able to use the App, as long as you’ve had two doses of the vaccine, you can receive a paper copy by ringing 119 and one will be posted to you within five working days.

More info at nhs.uk/nhsapp and www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

Your Covid Recovery

Whilst the vast majority of people get better within 4 weeks after having COVID-19 (often even sooner), some people can continue to have symptoms for up to 12 weeks. This is called ongoing symptomatic COVID.

If you still have symptoms more than 12 weeks after infection, this is known as post-COVID syndrome, or long COVID.

There is an NHS website dedicated to supporting people during their recovery, with loads of really helpful information. There is also a page for friends and family which explains how you can help loved ones who have ongoing symptoms.

Click here to access the Your Covid Recovery NHS Website.

Coronavirus Update

We are continuing to provide vital services such as childhood immunisations, certain injections and important blood tests. These will be done at a certain protected time, when there are no unwell patients in the surgery. Please bear with us if the time is not exactly convenient for you. This is for your safety.

Guidelines suggest that we do not accept paper prescription requests. We are sorry for any inconvenience but this is to prevent spread of the virus which can live on paper surfaces. Please order online here.

Please keep up to date with the Government Guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public