6 October 2021

  • Covid-19 booster vaccinations will be offered to frontline health & social care staff, those aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions putting them at greater risk.
  • The booster programme will run alongside our biggest ever flu vaccination programme.
  • The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is clear that both of these programmes are important for individual and public health, especially over winter 2021/22. So, wherever possible, eligible people will be offered Covid-19 and flu vaccines together.
  • Covid-19 booster vaccinations will be offered to the same groups who were prioritised in Winter and Spring 2020/21, and JCVI have advised that at least 24 weeks should have passed since receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, before a booster is administered.
  • Anyone eligible who has tested positive for Covid-19 must wait 28 days after a positive test to get the Covid-19 booster.
  • The way that all vaccinations are delivered in the Borders has changed as part of our Primary Care Improvement Plan. Vaccinations will now be administered by NHS Borders in community clinics instead of by individual GP practices. Some vaccinations may still be administered in a practice building by NHS Borders staff.  Please do not contact your GP practice to book your appointment as they will not be able to book it for you.
  • Our vaccination teams have offered Covid-19 booster and flu vaccinations to the majority of care home residents and staff in the Borders.
  • We began offering vaccinations to those eligible who are housebound today (Wednesday 6 October).
  • Those aged 80 years and over and adults aged 16 years and over who are on the highest risk list (previously known as the shielding list) will receive their appointment details by post (blue envelope) for their Covid-19 and flu vaccination this week. Clinics run from 11 - 30 October.
  • Those aged 70 -79 will received their letter next. It is anticipated that clinics for this group will commence from 30 October.
  • Details about how all other eligible groups will get their appointment details will be communicated in due course. These groups include those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions, adult carers, unpaid and young carers, adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals and all adults over 50.
  • People on the highest risk list who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their last Covid-19 vaccination will be offered a third primary dose instead of a booster, these vaccination appointments have also started.