Latest figures show that to date 387,186 booster vaccinations have been given across Sussex – this includes 45,923 people who have received their booster in Brighton & Hove.
This means that 67.4% of the total eligible population are now protected by their booster for the winter.
Clinics are taking place at Churchill Square, Brighton Racecourse, at pop ups such as sessions at Portslade Health Centre, and the mobile vaccination services across the city every week.
If you are eligible for your booster, you can book your appointment through the National Booking System – either the website or by calling 119, by direct contact with the Brighton Racecourse team, or by attending one of the mobile services.
The NBS can be accessed here: Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
On Monday two key announcements were made for the programme:
The move has been taken in order to reduce mortality, morbidity and hospitalisations from COVID-19 over the 2021 to 2022 winter period and through 2022, as well as to minimise the COVID-19 case infection rate and the chance of new variants emerging.
We are expecting the operational guidance from NHSE and national protocol, and expect both groups to be able to start to arrange their vaccines next week.
This week thousands of new booster appointments at services across Sussex have been added to the National Booking System.
The service at Churchill Square has released new times and dates all the way to Christmas – with now 800 appointments a day being booked through the system.
At the same time, the Brighton Racecourse service has joined the National Booking System and is now taking bookings via the website and the 119 phone line for their appointments.
The service at Sovereign Harbour Community Centre has increased the amount of appointments to ensure that people can arrange their vaccination over the coming weeks. To enable this, the walk in service has changed and is now only available for first and second doses. Booster vaccinations must be booked in advance.
The service at Northgate car park has released new times and dates all the way to Christmas – with now 600 appointments a day being booked through the system.
There are also two pharmacy led services in the area who are also on the National Booking System, and the GP led service at Sidlesham is contacting people directly and vaccinating more than 1000 people a week.
If you are eligible you can check out these new appointments by visiting Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk) or call 119.
In addition to Churchill Square and Brighton Racecourse, there are still mobile vaccination services taking place every week across the city to make it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccine.
They are offering first, second and booster vaccinations – no appointment is needed, you can simply attend and get your vaccination.
For your second dose, you simply need to be eight weeks from your first; and for your booster you need to be in an eligible group and it needs to be six months from the date of your second vaccine.
As we approach winter, the NHS is calling for anyone who is yet to have a vaccination to come forward and make sure they have had this vital protection.
Sessions this week are taking place on:
> See the latest list of clinic dates and locations
Vaccination services in Hastings are opening for longer to make it as easy as possible for people to come forward.
The Town Hall service will be opening on Wednesdays from next week, in addition to Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. On Wednesday it will be booked appointments only for booster vaccinations, but people needing their first and second vaccines can walk in from 10am to 4pm.
Then in addition the Kings Centre will be opening for an extra hour every day – until 6pm from next week. This is also booked appointments only for booster vaccinations but walk in for first and second vaccines.
Taking these steps the services expect to be able to offer 25% more appointments each week
This week the NHS is calling parents of 2 to 3-year-old pre-school child to please make an appointment with your GP practice for them to have their flu vaccine.
The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:
Three-year-old year Alana was vaccinated in October, her mother Sabahat Hassan, said: “It’s really important that my daughter gets the flu jab each year as I don’t want her to become unnecessarily unwell.
“I also know that children can be super spreaders, and the last thing I would like would be for my parents to become unwell because I did not take up the opportunity to vaccinate my child.”
Even if your child had a flu vaccination last year, the type of flu can vary each winter, so it is recommended that they have the flu vaccine each year to boost their immunity.
To mark over 15000 jabs delivered, Rye Town Council awarded the volunteers of the Rye Vaccination Centre a testimonial to mark their appreciation.
Rye Mayor, Councillor Rebekah Gilbert presented the award at a special Council Meeting on 12 November. Volunteer coordinators, Tamsin Visick and Chrissy Rodger, received the award on behalf of all the volunteers.
Anthony Kimber responded for the volunteers with grateful thanks , underlining the superb efforts and commitment from the volunteers who come from all across Rye District. He noted that the volunteers were only one component of the Centre and gave thanks to the whole team that is involved in the running of the service.
Last weekend Alliance for Better Care, the GP Federation that is running vaccination services in the north of West Sussex administered its 500,000th vaccination.
This is an incredible milestone for all of the teams involved in the services in Crawley, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Horsham.
To mark this milestone they’ve made a short film that not only documents the many highlights of this programme but also serves as a thank you to everyone who has contributed.
Much more information about the vaccination programme is available on our website, including details of the services available in each area, latest data, stakeholder briefings, answers to frequently asked questions and links to all the national leaflets and materials.
Thank you for your support in helping to keep our local communities updated and informed about this fast-moving and unprecedented vaccination programme.
> Find more information about the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme