The NHS in Sussex is making strong progress with the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Everyone in the first nine eligible groups have now been offered the vaccine and the NHS is on track to have offered it to all adults by the end of July, in line with the national target. We are now vaccinating people aged 40 and above as well as those with underlying health conditions, unpaid carers and health and care workers.
22 April 2021
Vaccination services are now arranging and holding second dose appointments. While the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine gives a good immunity to the virus, two doses are needed to have the best chance of full protection.
Second doses are being scheduled for approximately twelve weeks after the first.
If you booked your appointment via the National Booking Service (website) or by calling 119, you should have been invited to book both appointments at the same time. If you have missed an appointment or need to change it, please visit the website (Manage my Booking section) or call 119. You will need your booking reference number.
If you had your first dose at a GP led vaccination service, you will be contacted when your appointment is available. You will be contacted by the same team so you can have your second dose at the same place as your first vaccination.
GP led vaccination services are contacting people around 11 to 12 weeks to make appointments for sessions being held in the coming days. This is due to the timing of vaccine deliveries that they receive. Please try and make yourself available for the appointment.
If you are approaching 12 weeks, please be patient and you will be contacted. If you pass 13 weeks and you have not been contacted please contact your GP practice or our team using the details below.
We urge everyone to attend their second dose appointment as it is really important that people get both doses to get the greatest benefit from the vaccine.
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus.
It’s being given to:
The order in which people will be offered the vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Sussex has vaccination centres at:
When booking online, please enter your email address or mobile number to receive confirmation of your appointment. Please also note your reference number, as you must have this should you need to change your appointment.
People are being encouraged to continue to attend their vaccination appointments and make sure they receive their vital protection. A new statement from the Government has been issued:
“The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives.
“As the MHRA – the UK’s independent regulator – and the JCVI have said, the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of adults.
“Everybody who has already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same brand, irrespective of age, except for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts from their first vaccination.
“The government will follow today’s updated advice, which sets out that, as a precaution, it is preferable for people under the age of 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered an alternative vaccine where possible once they are eligible.
“When people are called forward, they should get their jab. Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19.”
Read the latest information on the vaccination and blood clotting.
If you have a question about the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme please take a look at our frequently asked questions page. If you can’t find the answer, please contact us – our details are below.
You can email us at sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net, or call our vaccine enquiry phone line: 0800 433 4545 (open 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday)
Note that we cannot book a vaccination appointment for you – please wait to be contacted.