Blog

As everyone is now aware, a vaccine has recently been approved for COVID-19, with more vaccines expected to be approved soon.  We understand that everyone is keen for life to return to something closer to normal and while this vaccine is a step in the right direction this will not happen overnight.

Vaccinations are to be offered to patients based on their level of risk.  The current priority categories are below, in order of priority –

1. Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers;
2. All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers 4;
3. All those 75 years of age and over;
4. All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals;
5. All those 65 years of age and over;
6. All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality;
7. All those 60 years of age and over;
8. All those 55 years of age and over; and
9. All those 50 years of age and over.

 IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE PRIORITY GROUPS, WE STILL ASK YOU NOT TO CONTACT US.

 WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN WE HAVE VACCINES AVAILABLE

At present, there are no plans to vaccinate those under 50 who have no underlying health conditions.  This is not within our control; we can only vaccinate patients within the above categories, in order of priority.  It is likely to take several months to work through the categories so those in the lower categories should not expect to hear from us for quite some time.

We will be working with our local colleagues to deliver the vaccines as they become available.  Due to the storage requirements of the current vaccine we have no choice but to deliver vaccines from a local hub, therefore when patients are offered their vaccine they will be asked to attend –

Woodgate Valley Health Centre,

61 Stevens Avenue, Woodgate Valley, Birmingham, B32 3SD

If you are offered a vaccine appointment, we ask that you arrive on time. Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment time as this is likely to cause longer queues and an increased waiting time.

Please also make sure that you are wearing a mask. Do not attend if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 4 weeks.

Importantly patients are asked not to drive themselves to the appointment.  It is safer to arrange for someone else to drive you to appointments for vaccinations.  Drivers will need to find parking on the nearby roads as the car park is only small and is often full.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign is going to be a long-term campaign, running for many months, or even longer.  Even those in the highest priority groups should not expect to hear from us immediately.  Vaccines are arriving in batches and have to be shared equally across the country.  We also have to work with a number of local practices to coordinate clinics and ensure that the housebound and those in care homes get access to vaccines.  This vaccination campaign is our highest priority but it will take some time to get to everyone.

Please be assured that as soon as we have a vaccine available for you we will be in touch.

While waiting for the vaccine we remind everyone that it is more important than ever to follow the rules to protect each other as well as the NHS –

Hands – frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitiser when you cannot access soap and water.

Face – use a face covering in public whenever you can

Space – stay 2m apart

Testing – it is essential that you are tested when displaying symptoms (cough, fever 37.8+ or loss of taste/smell)

Isolate – If you or a close contact has tested positive, please obey the isolation rules to prevent spread of the virus