We will be inviting you to ring the surgery shortly, to book two appointments for COVID vaccinations. We hope to be able to book appointments from Monday 4th January 2021, however, this will be dependent on the vaccine arriving very soon. At the moment the actual vaccination dates have not yet been confirmed but are likely to be in the first few weeks in January.

Location

Vaccinations will take place at The Michael Herbert Hall on South Street, Wilton, SP2 0JS. There is good parking alongside the hall.

There are no toilet facilities at the Hall. A short sleeve blouse or shirt under your coat will make the clinic run smoothly.

Please read the information below carefully, so that you are able to verbally consent to the vaccination on the day.

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. It’s being given to:

• some people aged 80 and over who already have a hospital appointment in the next few weeks
• people who live or work in care homes
• · health care workers at high risk

How the COVID-19 vaccine is given

The COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection into your upper arm. It is given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart. This is why we are asking you to book two appointments.

How safe is the COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the UK was developed by Pfizer/BioNTech. It has met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The MHRA follows international standards of safety.

Other vaccines are being developed. They will only be available on the NHS once they have been thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe and effective.

So far, thousands of people have been given a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare. No long-term complications have been reported.

How effective is the COVID-19 vaccine?

After having both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine most people will be protected against coronavirus. It takes a few weeks after getting the 2nd dose for it to work. There is a small chance you might still get coronavirus even if you have the vaccine. This means it is important to:

• continue to follow social distancing guidance www.nhs.uk/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do
• if you can, wear something that covers your nose and mouth in places where it’s hard to stay away from other people

COVID-19 vaccine side effects

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

You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to. If you have a high temperature you may have coronavirus or another infection.

If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call 111.

Allergic reactions

Tell staff before you are vaccinated if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). You should not have the vaccine if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to medicines, vaccines or food. However, it is safe to have the vaccine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting.

If you do have a reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens in minutes. This is why you will need to wait at the vaccination clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccination. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

This is a hugely positive step forwards after such a difficult year for everyone and we would ask you to seriously consider having a vaccination.