All frontline health and social care staff are eligible for a booster dose of the life-saving vaccine 6 months after their second dose to improve the levels of protection they have against coronavirus.
Most people working in these roles were part of the first phase of the vaccination programme, so would have received their second dose 6 months ago and are eligible for the booster now.
People who work in frontline health and social care, or who care for an adult, can book their booster online at NHS or by calling NHS 119.
Councillor Linda Leach, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “Over 1,000 people in Wolverhampton tested positive for Covid-19 last week so it is imperative that, if you work in a frontline health or social care role or if you are an adult carer, you book your booster shot yourself as soon as it is due.
“Doing so, you are not only increasing the protection you will personally have from coronavirus, but you are also reducing the chances of passing it on to people around you who will very likely be at higher risk from the virus.”
Vaccine boosters are also being offered to everyone over the age of 50, people over the age of 16 with who are clinically extremely vulnerable, people who live in the same household as vulnerable people and people experiencing homelessness. For most of these groups, boosters are being arranged through GPs, so they should wait to be contacted. Again, these boosters are only available 6 months after the second dose.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “I would strongly urge those who are eligible for their booster dose to come forward as soon as possible. This will give them, and their loved ones, the best possible protection against this deadly virus, help to slow the spread and help ease pressure on the NHS as we approach winter.”
The Covid-19 booster programme is running alongside the flu vaccination programme, and clinics will be offering both doses at the same time, where possible, to those eligible for both types of vaccination.
Meanwhile, for anyone who has yet to have either a first or second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, it is not too late. Walk-in vaccination clinics are open across Wolverhampton for anyone aged 16 or older. Full details can be found at COVID-19 vaccination.
Latest figures show there were 395.2 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last 7 days. That means 1,039 people tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of cases will likely be higher.
