Hampshire & Portsmouth vaccination update

I've received the following update regarding the vaccination role out across Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Below is the information that is pertinent to Portsmouth residents.

Despite the phenomenal effort to stand up clinics so quickly and begin vaccinating people, the NHS is aware of frustrations people are feeling as they are unsure of when they might be invited for their jab. Your continued support to share these messages within our communities is appreciated.

We understand that many people are very keen to be vaccinated as soon as possible, and we are continuing to work our way through the priority groups, as identified by the Joint

Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). We will be in touch with everyone as soon as we possibly can.

Those awaiting a vaccination invitation are reminded to :

• Make sure they are registered with a GP practice.

• Ensure their GP practice has up-to-date contact details for them – especially a mobile phone number if they have one. This makes it quicker and easier for us to make contact. There is no need to call us with this information – it can be updated online through the practice website.

• Continue to follow the government guidelines to keep themselves and others safe by complying with lockdown rules, washing your hands, covering your face, and giving other people space when you are out. This is really important even once you’ve had the vaccine.

Local delivery of the vaccination programme Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight our residents will be invited in one of three ways to have a vaccination:

• Using a local GP service: GP practices are working together across the county to vaccinate as many people as possible. Residents may be contacted by a different surgery to the one they usually go to.

• Local hospital services: Patients may be contacted to have the vaccination as an inpatient or outpatient.

• At a vaccination centre: These are due to go live shortly. If a person lives within 30 to 45 minutes of a vaccination centre, and haven’t already been vaccinated, they may have received a letter asking them to book an appointment online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. If they can’t access the NHS website they can call 119 free. If a person would prefer to be vaccinated by their local GP practice or vaccination centre, as explained in the letter, they can wait to be contacted by their GP or try the website again later as sites are being added as they become available.

The feedback from both patients and staff attending all of the sites continues to be very positive about how well clinics have run.

Pharmacies In line with the national announcement NHS England is arranging for some local pharmacies to provide the vaccination on an appointment basis. Details of pharmacies will be added to the national booking system as they go live so individuals will be able to book an appointment with them, if that is their choice, when they receive their letter from the national team inviting them to have a vaccination. We will add details of pharmacies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to the list of sites and the online map as they go live.

We know that a number of you are being contacted with questions about the vaccination programme. Thank you for your support in answering these. If you have a query, or receive one, that is not included in the frequently asked questions on our websites please contact the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vaccination Team viawhccg.covid.vaccination.enquiries@nhs.net