Please find below some of the questions Anthony has been asking the Cambridge and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on behalf of constituents. If you have any questions, please go to our contact page or send Anthony an email at anthony.browne.mp@parliament.uk.
Why can’t I find a site near me to book my booster?
The National Booking Service automatically offers appointments that are available at that moment in time by geographic radius. Therefore, if a local site is currently fully booked people will be offered alternative locations. the CCG recommends people check back regularly to see what other appointments have been uploaded if they’re unable to travel to the sites offered.
Why have the CCG stopped walk-in booster clinics?
They made the decision to pause walk-in clinics last week in advance of the Prime Minister’s latest announcement, and they are focused on opening up more appointments that people can book locally to manage demand and ensure if people travel to a centre, they will get their booster vaccination without queuing for prolonged periods of time. Anthony has asked for more walk-in options to be made available.
How can people who are currently eligible get their booster in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough?
People who are currently eligible to get their booster - which are those aged 30 and over or clinically vulnerable - can pre-book their vaccination after at least 2 months, or 61 days, have passed since their last COVID-19 vaccination. Appointments can be booked online via www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119. Patients will be offered appointments after at least 3 months (91 days) have passed.
From Wednesday 15 December onwards the booking system will open for pre-booking to all patients aged 18 and over, provided it’s been at least 61 days since their second dose, with appointments offered after at least 91 days have passed.
What type of vaccine will we be offered as a booster?
In line with JCVI advice most patients will be offered an mRNA vaccination as their booster dose – this is the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Patients who are not able to have either of these vaccines for clinical reasons, for example due to allergies, will be offered AstraZeneca. Patients can rest assured that they will be offered a booster vaccine that is safe and effective.
Why aren’t GPs offering booster vaccinations?
Local GPs are delivering booster vaccinations in our area, with many more stepping forward to run vaccination clinics over the coming days and weeks. the CCG are incredibly grateful for their continued support in delivering vaccinations to local people.
What is being done to step up capacity?
The CCG has confirmed that all of their Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have agreed to be part of the delivery of booster doses over the next few weeks. Some practices will take part exclusively by offering boosters to their housebound patients, but a number of Primary Care Networks – groups of practices – will re-open their GP-led vaccination hub to deliver boosters to eligible patients across their patient lists.
In addition to the increase in participation in the programme from the fantastic primary care teams, all three acute hospital trusts in our area will be standing up a COVID-19 booster vaccination hub over the coming days. Hubs will be located at Royal Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, as well as Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Peterborough City Hospital.
Further to this, they are also working closely with Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS) NHS Trust, which run the large scale vaccination centres in our area, to extend opening hours at existing large scale sites to allow for more bookable appointments to be made available.
How will housebound patients get the vaccine?
Housebound booster vaccinations in our area are currently ongoing and are a priority area of focus for the CCG. They have written to all housebound patients in our area and they have teams making phone calls to patients every day to offer appointments within their homes. If you are struggling with this, please contact 119 or the CCG themselves.
Where can I go if I want to volunteer or apply for a job in the vaccination programme?
There are still opportunities for both paid and volunteer staff to support the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS. Constituents who are interested in volunteering shold visit www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk. Paid roles within the vaccination centres can be found via www.jobs.nhs.uk.