Three million Covid-19 vaccines given
The latest national statistics for the vaccination programme confirm teams across Kent and Medway have given over three million doses since. It’s just under one year since our first jabs were given to the most vulnerable local residents. Our latest statistics show:
- 3,059,275 total doses, of which 422,236 are 3rd booster doses.
- 90% of cohorts 1-9 have had two doses
- 68% of those eligible have had their booster
- 69% of everyone over 18 have had two doses
- 60% of 16 to 17-year-olds have had one does
- 41% of 12 to 15-year-olds have had one dose
Booster vaccinations
The booster vaccination programmes continues with bookable clinics across Kent and Medway. There is some walk-in availability – we are encouraging people to check if the clinic they wish to go to is bookable, walk-in or is offering both.
A full list of available sites can be found at: https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine
There is ample capacity within Kent and Medway for the booster vaccination. We are continually reviewing provision of the Covid-19 vaccination to make sure there is enough capacity for everyone who wishes to be vaccinated.
Extra support
To support the programme new and extended vaccine clinics include:
- A mobile trailer is planned for Sovereign Way car park in Tonbridge, from 1 December. It will be capable of handling 450 vaccinations per day.
- In Medway, the Pentagon Vaccination Centre will be providing Covid-19 vaccinations seven-days-a-week until 31 March 2022.
- Lordswood Health Centre has joined the programme as a vaccination site, with its first clinic last weekend.
- There is also now a clinic in Whitfield, Dover, to support vaccinations in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich areas; it opened in recent days.
These additions will support the programme to continue to offer good coverage across the county.
National Booking Service slot availability
Slots are regularly added to the national booking service and we would ask that people check back if a slot at a site they wish to use is unavailable when they first try. You can access the national booking service by calling 119 or visiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
New eligible groups
Anyone aged 40 and over is now eligible for a booster and 16 to 17-year-olds are also eligible for a second dose (healthy 16 to 17-year-olds at 12 weeks and 16 and 17-year-olds who are clinically extremely vulnerable at eight weeks). This began on Monday, 22 November. In this group, more than 51,000 (51,802) have already had their booster vaccination (25 November).
Vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds
The national booking service opened on Friday, 22 October to take bookings for 12 to 15-year-olds. In Kent and Medway, the programme has been primarily offered by the School-aged Immunisations Team, provided by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
As part of the primary offer, the School-aged Immunisation Service has been visiting schools across Kent and Medway and will do so, as planned.
Availability on the national booking service means that if a child has missed the vaccination because they were absent from school on the day the team was there, parents/guardians can now book online at their convenience for a location that suits them.
Local vaccination sites and community pharmacies are participating via the national booking service. Consent will be taken before or on the day of the appointment at these sites. Those taking part can be found here: https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine
As of Thursday, 25 November, more than 39,000 children in this group in in Kent and Medway had been vaccinated. More than 140 schools have so far been visited as part of the programme.
Vaccination push in the lead-up to Christmas
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Kent and Medway will be supporting the national drive to bolster the number of people vaccinated so that the festive period is as safe as it can be for everyone. This will include extra capacity, including the walk-in vaccination on wheels bus, which will be in the Tesco superstore car park in Sheerness, this weekend (Friday, 26 November to Sunday, 28 November), from 10am to 4pm, for walk-ins.
Questions about a vaccine record?
If you have a question about a Covid-19 vaccination record, you need to contact the Vaccination Data Resolution Service, which is there to resolve missing or incorrect vaccination records for people vaccinated in England, Scotland or Wales who have a NHS number and are registered with a GP practice in England.
If you believe there is missing or incorrect Covid-19 vaccination data, please call 119, selecting option one and then option four, and ask the call agent to make a referral to the VDRS team on your behalf. The VDRS team will aim to call you back within 21 days.