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After the Government announced a huge drive to vaccinate against Covid-19 before January, there has been some confusion.
Here, we explain how to get your booster jab:
Vaccination services are working extremely hard to roll out the booster programme and to make as many appointments available as possible.
The National Booking Service website is very busy but please keep checking. You may also be contacted by your local service or GP practice over the next few days about your vaccine
You'll be able to have a booster 3 months from your 2nd vaccine. If it's been 2 months, you may want to book an appointment in preparation by using the Booking Service or calling 119
Appointments are being added daily and capacity is being increased. Keep trying the online booking system or call 119
Don't contact your HP practice about your booster vaccine. It's important to keep phones and online streams clear for patients with health-related needs
Unless you are contacted by your practice, GP practice appointments should be attended as planned. If anything changes your practice will contact you
If you've tested positive to COVID, you'll need to wait 28 days before having your booster but you can book now
Where do I go to find out more?
Book your vaccine appointment online here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ Remember, it may be busy but do keep trying as appointments are added often. Some areas are also offering a walk-in service
You can also book your vaccine by calling 119. Calls are free and lines are open form 7am o 11pm. You can also use this number to book a PCR test. Support is available in 200 languages and there is a sign language interpreter too
If you have any questions or concerns about getting the vaccine or need more information, there are some helpful webpages which you can find here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/
Remember to keep calm, and avoid contacting your GP surgery about your booster vaccine. Thank you for your patience.
If you are able, please provide feedback to us about your experience at enquiries@healthwatchwestsussex.co.uk, www.healthwatchwestsussex.co.uk or 0300 012 0122
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Message to our patients – update on the COVID-19 booster programme
Across Sussex the NHS and its partners are working extremely hard to roll out the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme to our communities.
All adults are eligible from Monday 13 December, and you will be able to book via the National Booking System from Wednesday 15 December.
You can book your booster for 3 months from the date of second vaccine, and you can access the National Booking System to book the appointment from 2 months.
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 have been offering more than 80,000 appointments a week and in the last two weeks we have increased the number of available appointments by more than 10,000 a week. Further availability will come online from Wednesday 15 December.
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 3 months 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 Harold Road Surgery, 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 in Sussex, including the vaccination services: COVID-19 vaccinations - Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk)
COVID status checker online version (alternative to NHS App), NHS Login still required: https://covid-status.service.nhsx.nhs.uk/
You also need to be registered with a GP surgery in England to use this service. You can register with a GP if you do not have one.
Find out more about who is eligible to have a coronavirus vaccination.
If you are not eligible yet
Wait to be contacted. The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.