Dec 3: COVID-19 vaccinations – 1st, 2nd doses and boosters

The NHS is working on plans to offer:

• a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over
• a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system
• booster doses from 3 months after the previous dose – currently it’s from 6 months after the previous dose
• a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old who are not already eligible

Please note that this is not yet available. Please wait to be contacted by the NHS.

Our vaccination centres

Oxford Health is the lead provider for large-scale vaccination centres for Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire West and cater for first, second and booster doses to all eligible people. Please note that full infection prevention control restrictions remain in place at all Oxford Health sites. Visitors are expected to wear masks, wash hands and observe social distancing.

The vaccination centres are located at:

• Kassam Stadium,  Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 6DE (*closed all day for Oxford United home weekend matches)
• Broad Street Mall, Units 49-50, Reading, RG1 7QE.
• Guttmann Centre: Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 9PP

These sites accept booked appointments and walk-in opportunities for eligible patient groups. You can check eligibility here.

Booster walk ins

Due to demand there may be queues and on some occasions we may close walk ins due to capacity.

• Broad Street Mall, accepts walk -ins daily between 9.30am and 7pm.
• Kassam Stadium accepts walk-ins daily between 9.30am and 7pm. The Kassam is closed for Oxford United home weekend matches, and at 3pm on weekday home matchdays.
• Guttmann Centre accepts walks ins from 9.30am – 7pm Sunday to Thursday; and from 2-7pm Friday and Saturday

You can also find out about additional vaccination opportunities on the Grab A Jab website here

Other options

These include Health on the Move vans and other localised initiatives

• Oxfordshire (no appointment required).
• Buckinghamshire (no appointment required).
• Berkshire West (no appointment required).

We work alongside other NHS colleagues including GPs and pharmacies in ensuring all eligible people get vaccinated. First, second and booster doses for those aged over 18 are registered on the NHS app.

Eligibility for boosters

If you had your second COVID-19 vaccination dose more than five months ago you can book your booster via the National Booking Service

Those currently eligible include:

• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 40 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 years with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19, and adult carers
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
• aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19

First doses: Children aged 12-15

Parents can  book COVID-19 vaccinations online for their 12-15 year old children via the National Booking Service . Our vaccination centres also accept walk in appointments.

The Government has announced plans for a second vaccination. The details of the implementation has not yet been confirmed.

Read more about the vaccine, vaccination programme and advice for parents here.

Second doses: 16 – 17 year olds

The NHS has also opened the National Booking Service to make second doses available to newly eligible 16-17s.

Parental consent is not required to be vaccinated for this age group. People also do not have to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to be vaccinated, although it will make the process easier so they should bring this if they can.

Third doses: Severely immunosuppressed 12 years and above

If you are considered to be severely immunosuppressed you will be contacted by your hospital consultant or GP. The JCVI is now recommending a third primary dose as part of the primary vaccination schedule.

This is separate from any potential booster vaccination. You can access the third primary dose as a walk-in at any of the vaccination centres listed above, but you will need to evidence the letter/ text that places you in this category.

The third primary dose must be given at least eight weeks after the second dose.

First and second doses (adults over 18 years)

You can access a first and second dose through the National Booking System, calling 119 or simply walking in to any of the vaccination centres listed above.

Walk in times are as follows:

• The Guttmann centre in Aylesbury accepts walk-ins from 9am – 7pm  Sunday to Thursday, and 2pm -7pm on Friday/Saturday
• The Mall in Reading is open for walk ins Monday to Sunday between 9.30am and 7pm.
• The Kassam Stadium in Oxford is accepting walk ins for those eligible between 9.30am and 7pm. Please note that the Kassam is closed all day for walk-ins and appointments for Oxford United home weekend matches, and at 3pm on weekday home matchdays.

Following advice from JCVI, eligible people can get their second primary vaccine so long as there is a clear eight weeks gap after their first dose.

Bookings, timings and amendments

You can book your vaccine or amend an appointment on the NHS National Booking System or by calling 119.

If you are under the age of 40 or pregnant you will automatically be offered a venue that uses either Pfizer or Moderna  as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Read the latest advice here

Cases

Coronavirus: temporary restrictions

In England, temporary measures have been put in place to respond to the Omicron variant to slow its arrival and spread.

• Arrivals from red list countries will need to quarantine.
• International arrivals from non-red list countries who are fully vaccinated will need to isolate at home and take a PCR test on or before day 2 following your arrival. You are only permitted to leave isolation if this test result is negative. If your test result is positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days. This is the law.
• Face coverings are a legal requirement in shops and on public transport. This is the law.
• Those who have come into contact with an individual who may have been infected with the Omicron variant will need to self-isolate. This will apply even if you are fully-vaccinated or aged 18 or under. This is the law.

These temporary measures will be reviewed in 3 weeks’ time. Full guidance can be found here.

Please note that full infection prevention control restrictions remain in place at all Oxford Health sites. Visitors are expected to wear masks, wash hands and observe social distancing.

Get tested and self isolate

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test, even if your symptoms are mild. You should self-isolate at home while you book the test and wait for the results. You must self-isolate if you test positive. Your isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days. This is the law.

The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above, even if your symptoms are mild, stay at home and arrange to have a test.

You must also self-isolate if you are told to do so by NHS Test and Trace, for example if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive. This remains the law, regardless of your vaccination status.

You could be fined if you do not self-isolate following notification by NHS Test & Trace.