Who is being vaccinated?
NHS England and NHS Kent and Medway CCG are currently vaccinating people in the first four priority groups, i.e.:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
Kent and Medway CCG expect all people in these groups to have been invited to be vaccinated by 15th February 2020.
The full Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) list of priory groups is is on gov.uk
How do I make an appointment for my vaccination?
Do not contact NHS or your GP to ask for a vaccination, they should contact you. If you are over 70 years of age and have not been invited by 15th February contact your GP then (please remember that your GP surgery is very busy use the contact methods given on their website).
Where are vaccinations being given?
In Ashford urban area vaccinations are currently being given at:
- St, Stephens Medical Centre
for patients of the Ashford Medical Partnership: Willesborough Health Centre, Singleton Health Centre and St Stephens Health Centre - Musgrove Park Medical Centre, Ashford
foe patients of Ashford Stour PCN: Hollington Surgery, Kingsnorth Medical Practice, New Hayesbank Surgery, Sellindge Surgery, Sydenham House Medical Centre and Wye Surgery
and - The Wiliam Harvey Hospital
Other centres are listed on the KMCCG website
Only visit a vaccination centre if you have an appointment.
there is no walk-in service at any centre.
If you are undergoing treatment at another hospital you may be invited to be vaccinated at that hospital. If this involves a substantial journey you can ask to be vaccinated at a local centre.
How will I get the vaccine if I am housebound?
If you are known to be housebound through illness or disability you will be contacted to arrange your vaccination at home, either through your GP or Kent Community Health Foundation NHS Trust (KCHFT).
At the vaccination centre
- Ensure you are wearing a clean face mask.
- Do not arrive before the time given on your appointment.
- Please attend alone unless you are unable to.
- Follow instructions given on your invitation or at the centre regarding announcing your arrival.
- You may have to wait – please maintain social distancing from other patients.
- Before being vaccinated you should be asked some questions about your medical history or to allow the vaccinator to access your medical records.
- After vaccination you will be given a card with information about your vaccination. It is important to keep this card.
- You should be given an appointment for your second vaccination within 12 weeks of your first.
- You should wait at the vaccination centre, as instructed, for 15 minutes after your vaccination.
After vaccination
You must continue to follow current regulations and advice related to Covid-19, i.e.:
- Hands: wash your hands regularly
- Face: wear a face covering inside shops and other buildings to which the public have access
- Space: maintain 2m distance from people not in your household
- During lockdown:
- Stay at Home other than for permitted reasons
- Do not meet with people from outside of your household
Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:
- a sore arm where the needle went in
- feeling tired
- a headache
- feeling achy
- feeling or being sick
You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to.
If your symptoms get worse or you are worried,
- call 111.
- inform your GP
- inform the centre where you were vaccinated, or
- submit a report to the MHRA
If you have a high temperature you may have coronavirus or another infection.
Front line workers
All front line health and social care workers should be invited for a vaccination by their employer.
Agency workers on a long term deployment should be vaccinated through the organisation they are working for.
Agency workers on short term deployments should be have their vaccination arranged by their agency.
If you are working directly on the front line in health or social care and have not be invited for vaccination, contact the organisation through which you are working first or KMCCG.
KMCCG are consulting with the government regarding including other key workers in a priority group.
More information
There is more information about Covid-19 vaccination on the KMCCG website: www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine
including these answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine/covid-19-vaccination-programme-frequently-asked-questions
and on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Scam Alert
The Covid-19 Vaccine will always be available free of charge
The NHS will not ask for bank or financial details to confirm your identity