This briefing from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS will share the latest updates from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent vaccination programme.
Preparing for Winter
As winter approaches, we want to ensure that those most at-risk of serious illness from COVID-19 are protected by offering the new bivalent booster vaccination. In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, we have made an excellent start on our vaccination programme, administering more than 160,000 COVID-19 vaccines since the beginning of September.
People may be offered the flu and COVID-19 jab at the same time subject to supply, with the doses approved to be co-administered. In fact, many COVID-19 boosters administered so far in our area have been co-administered with flu – offering even greater protection from illness this winter.
There are 47 sites offering vaccination across the area to ensure easy access for as many people as possible including 23 GP-led sites, 21 pharmacies, the vaccination centre at Tunstall and sites at University Hospital of North Midlands and St George’s Hospital. Alongside these our mobile vaccination bus, Mo, is travelling around to reach communities closer to home, whether that be shopping centres, community events, student unions or fire stations.
As cases of COVID-19 are rising, especially in the colder weather and more gathering indoors, we continue to encourage people to top up the immunity ahead of winter to help us all continue to live with this virus without restrictions.
COVID-19 Autumn Boosters
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) has advised who should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine in autumn 2022.
Who can have another booster?
- Adults aged 50 and over
- People aged five to 49 with health conditions which put them at higher risk – including pregnant women
- Care home staff
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Carers aged 16 to 49
- Household contacts of people with weakened immune systems
How do I get a booster?
The NHS will be in touch when it’s time to book in, so you don’t need to contact local services. Once it’s your turn, you will be able to make an appointment online or through 119 as long as it has been three months since your last dose. Walk-in appointments, where no booking is needed, will also be available at some sites.
Vaccination in pregnancy
In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent we have developed a Q&A leaflet for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Here is a link to the leaflet. Vaccine advice for pregnant women – Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS (staffsstokeics.org.uk)
We have asked a number of organisations and groups if they would like to display an A3 poster in settings where pregnant and/or breastfeeding women would see them. The posters have a QR code that links to the leaflet so women can have the advice on their phones.
When you become pregnant it gets harder to fight off infections. This means you are at greater risk from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, especially in the third trimester, which could cause complications for both you and your baby.
Studies of those who are pregnant admitted to hospital with COVID-19 show there is higher risk of admission to intensive care, high blood pressure due to pre-eclampsia and premature or still birth.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect you and your baby and is recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives.
Recent research shows being vaccinated in pregnancy can also give your baby protection from COVID-19 for six months after they are born, reducing the risk of them needing hospital treatment for severe COVID-19 related illness.
You can be vaccinated at any time during pregnancy, and you can now get a further booster dose if it has been three months since your last one.
You can book an appointment online, call 119 or speak to your general practice team, midwife or pharmacist about other ways to get your vaccine.
The venue I attended was too small for the large number of people attending at that time. As we had to queue outside and it began to pour with rain , a member of staff from the venue used their initiative and told us to come inside the premises. At ths, one of the workers delivering the vaccination programme was critical of the person’s decision.. After completing the paperwork, I saw a worker sitting doing nothing so, I approached them and their communication skills were non-existent. Two of the workers addressed me as ‘darling’which I found highly offensive. The whole experience, for me, was of meeting with a group of non-professional people and I will not place myself in this situation again.
Hi Lynn, I’m sorry to hear about this. My colleague will email you to get more information and then we will see if we can help at all.