Two years on the Lincolnshire covid vaccination programme reaches another milestone
Posted on: 9th December 2022
Hot on the heels yesterday (8th December) of the two-year anniversary of the launch of the covid vaccination programme in the Midlands, Lincolnshire’s covid vaccination programme has reached a hugely significant milestone of its own.
The world’s first covid-19 vaccine outside of clinical trial was delivered to Margaret Keenan, at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, on 8th December 2020, with GP services across the country, including in Lincolnshire, joining the vaccination programme a week later.
“In December 2020 and January 2021, the first vaccination centres opened their doors, including our very own PRSA Mass Vaccination Centre in Boston, and the GP-run centre at the Meres, Grantham, and we haven’t looked back since,” comments Karen Hewinson, Head of Clinical Services, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
Working with GP practices and community pharmacies, by the end of January 2021, one million vaccines had been delivered across the Midlands, the first NHS region to reach this milestone. In the months that followed, the Lincolnshire vaccination teams reached a series of their own milestones.
“By May 2021 our team at the Lincolnshire Showground had given 50,000 vaccinations, a few weeks later in June the team at PRSA gave their 100,000th vaccination and the team at the Meres, Grantham, reached their 150,000th vaccination. These numbers kept growing over the following 18 months, helped massively by the willingness of the Lincolnshire public to come forwards and get their covid vaccinations,” adds Karen.
Fast forward to December 2022, and the NHS across the Midlands has given over 27 million first, second, third and booster vaccinations, with Lincolnshire giving its two millionth covid vaccination today (Friday 9th December).
“Hitting such a huge number is astonishing, especially when you think about what it represents. Two years ago we went from literally nothing to having a full-scale mass vaccination programme rolled out in a matter of weeks, something that had never been done before and that has saved lives across Lincolnshire and the country,” notes Karen.
“During this time we’ve set up new vaccination sites, given the vaccines to children and adults, taken vaccines into schools, care homes and communities, introduced new vaccines to counter new variants of covid and - with our teams at out Mass Vaccination Centres and GP and community pharmacy-run sites across the county – rolled up our sleeves and done what we’ve needed to do.”
But it’s not over yet. Right now, in addition to anyone aged 50 or over, the NHS in the county is especially keen to see people who are clinically at risk from covid for their autumn booster. However, there are a wide range of reasons why someone may be considered at risk and not everyone at risk realises they are.
“Covid can make anyone seriously ill, but for some people the risk is higher. There are a wide range of reasons why you may be considered clinically at risk from covid, including many that some people won’t appreciate puts them at risk, such as having a BMI of 40 or over. Fortunately the good news for most people at risk is that getting vaccinated significantly reduces the risk to you,” explains Karen.
One group in particular where there seems to a bit of a gap, in terms of uptake of the covid autumn booster, is people with diabetes.
“If you have diabetes, you are strongly encouraged to have your covid vaccines, including your autumn booster. This is because people with diabetes are vulnerable to developing a severe illness if they get covid and the vaccines are the most effective way to prevent that from happening,” reasons Karen.
Anyone over the age of 5 who lives with diabetes, or cares for someone who does, can book their covid autumn booster through the National Booking Service or by calling 119. Alternatively, you may have been contacted by your GP practice.
There is more information for people with diabetes on the Diabetes UK website. The government-published Green Book includes information on the various conditions (and criteria) considered to be clinical risk groups (Table 3, page 19).
In addition to people with diabetes, and those aged 50 or over, the NHS is also keen to see children and adults aged 5-49 who are in one or more of the other at risk groups or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression, including pregnant women, plus carers aged 16-49, and frontline health and social care workers.
Many of the GP and community pharmacy-run covid vaccination sites around the county are offering people the opportunity to get their flu jab at the same time as their covid autumn booster, although the Meres Vaccination Centre, Grantham, the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and PRSA, Boston, are not and are only offering covid vaccinations.
Please note that from Saturday 3rd December, PRSA Mass Vaccination Centre, Boston, will be temporarily closed whilst roof repairs are carried out. However, there will be additional pop-up walk-in vaccination sessions taking place during this time that don’t require an appointment - please visit www.lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/grabajab for updates and locations.
Appointments for the covid autumn booster can be booked online using the National Booking Service or by calling 119. There is a list of scheduled vaccination clinics being held at the Weighing Rooms Mass Vaccination Centre, Lincoln, that you can book an appointment at available at Vaccination schedule – Mass Vaccination Centres - Lincolnshire ICB.
Alternatively, it is possible to have your autumn booster on a walk-in basis, provided you are 50 or over, at the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and there is more information at www.lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/grabajab about the days and times walk-ins are available.
In addition, the vaccination centre at the Meres (Table Tennis Club), Grantham, will be offering covid autumn booster walk-ins for people aged 50 or over on Sunday 11th December, between 9.30am-12.30pm.
You can also visit the national walk-in site to find local vaccination centres around the country that are offering walk-ins.