COVID Vaccinations - this page was updated 23.8.2023

We hare not running vaccination clinics this autumn - we are focussing on our critical day work/patient care.

Everyone eligible will be able to access the vaccination: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination

Everything we know about the COVID vaccination programme is written on this page. 

If you have questions which are not answered on this page, you can find more information about COVID vaccination on the NHS covid vaccination pages or by calling the COVID vaccination hotline on 119. The number is free to call and translating services are available. 

Please do not contact us

We do not know any more information

We cannot change the order in which patients are invited

We cannot make exceptions in any circumstance

We are unable to offer advice about the vaccine. These questions should be discussed with the clinician at the time of your vaccination. You can always choose not to have it.

Unfortunately despite our requests many patients are contacting us asking questions about vaccinations.  We are concerned that the pressure on our systems might prevent unwell patients from accessing help when they need it. We have over 1000 incoming calls a day (not to mention >800 emails a day) and we need to be sure to notice the ones from patients who need us.

Therefore for patient safety, we will not enter into any discussion about vaccinations.  

The Department of Health's current information is to invite only these groups for a Spring 2023 COVID booster vaccine

All people aged 75 and over.  This is irrespective of whether they chose to have a Autumn 2022 booster.

People 18 and over who are on immunosuppressive medication

Currently other groups are not being invited for a Spring booster (despite being invited for previous boosters) including

Frontline healthcare workers, carers, and support workers

Family/household members of people who are severely immunosuppressed

Those with health conditions that put them at risk of complications of COVID

Generally - anyone who is under 75, and anyone not on immunosuppressive medication, is not currently being invited

If the Department of Health infomation changes then invites will be sent to the relevant groups and this webpage will be updated. Please do not call to inquire about this - only those 75+, and those 18+ on immunosuppressive medication, are being invited for Spring boosters until the DoH advice changes to say otherwise.

We are obliged to invite patients in a certain order, so please wait for us to invite you, and wait your turn.

Invitations and bookings are the same as before

we will send text invitations to everyone for whom we have a mobile number (those with smart phones can book their own appointment online)

WE WILL CALL anyone who has had a text but doesn't book - just wait for us to call you

WE WILL CALL everyone else - just wait for us to call you

We are inviting all patients who are registered with us who are eligible for the booster, regardless of when and where they had their first doses.

If you are not registered with us you will not be able to have your vaccination here.

Please make sure you support your surgery by booking to have your COVID vaccinations with us.   The surgery relies on being able to give vaccinations to patients in order to continue to be able to provide a full range of health services for our patients.   

We have given well over 70,000 doses of COVID vaccinations so far.  Its been an emormous amount of work.  Our team has worked all hours, organising, booking, vaccinating.  Everyone has given up personal time, evenings, weekends to be able to get our patients the vaccines they desperately need to help us get out of the pandemic safely.  We are very proud of what we have acheived.  Please come along for this, hopefully your final dose (!) and don't forget to thank the volunteers you meet.  

The next clinic is on Thursday 11th May. Invite only.

BOOKING

We do not offer a walk-in service.  You MUST have an appointment.  Thats because there is strict control on every last dose of the vaccine, and because we are obliged to vaccinate in a particular order.  If you just turn up, you will be turned away.

The booster must be given at least 12 weeks after your last dose of the COVID vaccine.  If you have had a COVID vaccine in the last 12 weeks you cannot attend the clinic on the 22nd. We hope to run more clinics in the future so you should wait for an invite to one of those.

WHICH VACCINE

We will be giving the Sanofi Vaccine.

TIMING

You do not have to wait at the clinic for 15 minutes after having the Sanofi vaccine. Please arrive on time for your appointment, not early or late.

PARKING

We are only able to offer parking to patients who have a Blue Bage.  

Unfortunately we no longer have the use of the local car parks either.

ENTRANCE

As before, the entrance is round the back, via the car park.

Patients with limited mobility/wheelchair users will be directed to come in the front entrance - this is all same-level.

CLOTHING

There may be a queue to enter the building so consider wrapping up and bringing an umbrella.

But once inside, please be ready to receive the vaccination in the top of the arm.  You will need to remove coats, jumpers and long sleeves. 

COVID PREVENTION MEASURES

Please attend alone if possible.  If you need assistance, one other person may come with you.

Face coverings are no longer required, but if you would prefer to wear one you are welcome to do so.

If you develop COVID symptoms (fever, new continuous cough or alteration or loss of your sense of smell or taste) or if you have a positive test.

DO NOT COME

Your vaccination will not be wasted.

We will invite you again soon.  Please do not contact us.

CARERS

If you need someone with you, you can bring one person.   

We are not able to offer the COVID vaccine to your carer, because at the moment "carers" are not eligble for it.

Patients who are genuinely housebound will be vaccinated at their home.  We do not yet know whether that will be by our Team or by the Community Nursing Team (District Nurses).   

We have no further information at this stage - please do not contact us.  We will contact you when we know what is happening. 

We already have a good idea which of our patients are housebound.  You do not need to contact us to remind us that you are housebound.

If you have received an invitation for your COVID vaccination at the vaccination centre but you are housebound, WAIT FOR US TO CALL YOU.  You will have a chance to explain that you need to be vaccinated at home.

Patients who are temporarily housebound

If you get an invitation but cannot get to us, wait for us to call you.   We know that some patients have a temporary reason for being unable to leave their house (e.g. recovering from an operation) and you will get chance to explain when we call you.  Please do not call us.

What does housebound mean?

The NHS is unable to provide vaccination in your home unless you are truly housebound for medical reasons.   That does not include needing to be at home to look after someone else (you should make arrangements to cover your absence while you come to the centre) or lack of transport (you are expected to make your own arrangements).

Your GP practice will have final decision on whether you are considered to be housebound.

We have already held a Spring booster clinic at local nursing home, and hope arrange future clinics at others.

If you receive an invitation to come to the vaccination centre, but are unable to get to us, please speak to your home staff to arrange for a vaccination at the home.  Please do not contact your surgery.

If you live in a residential home or in supported living accommodation, you will be expected to come to the vaccination centre.

The COVID vaccination is now available to anyone in England over 16 years of age.  You do not need to be registered with a GP (though you should be!) and you do not need to be resident/living in the England, you just need to be in the England to have the vaccination.

All versions of the COVID vaccine need 2 doses for the primary course.  Second doses are only given 8 weeks or more after the first dose.  If you book too early for your second dose, you will be turned away.  Ideally both doses of the primary course should be of the same vaccine.  If that is not possible, switching vaccine is better than only having 1 dose.

3rd ("booster") doses were advised for:

Everyone over 16y of age

People aged 12-15y who have a condition which puts them at risk of severe COVID infection (the "clinical risk" groups)

People aged 12-15y who are household contacts of patients of any age who are severely immunosuppressed (so do not have such good protection from the vaccine)

Booster doses are given at least 12 weeks after the 2nd dose.  It is not important to have the same type of vaccine as your primary course.

Spring 2022 Booster Doses

These were offered to

People aged 65y and over

People aged 16-64y who have a condition which puts them at risk of severe COVID infection (the "clinical risk" groups)

Booster doses are given at least 12 weeks after the 2nd dose.  It is not important to have the same type of vaccine as your primary course.

To book an appointment

Most people have already had these vaccinations, but they remain available under the programmes "Evergreen" offer.

You can book an appointment at one of the Mass Vaccination Centres (there are several in Cambridge) through the National Booking Service.

(This does not apply for Spring 2023 boosters - you can only book onto the clinic when you receive an invite)

Prefer a walk-in?  

There are several centres offering a walk-in service where no appointment is needed. (Not for Spring 2023 boosters, only previous rounds of vaccine).

The NHS recognises COVID vaccinations given in some countries, but not in others.  There is a list of "allowed" countries on the government COVID webpages.  

• If you have not been vaccinated yet, you can have the vaccination as soon as you are in England, if you are over 16years of age (see above).
• If you have been vaccinated in a country which has not been approved, you should have the course of 2 vaccinations (and booster) again, under the NHS, once you are in England.
• If you have been vaccinated in an "approved" country, you do not need to have the vaccination again, but you do have the option of doing so if you wish.  However, the NHS advises against doing so, as there is a risk of side effects with every dose. 

Tell the NHS about vaccinations done abroad (NHS app, COVID passport)

Until recently, patients who had COVID vaccinations done abroad had no way of making them appear in the NHS App (and therefore in the NHS COVID passport).  The NHS has finally come up with a solution, which is explained on the NHS COVID vaccination webpages.

Please do not contact us about this as we cannot help.

Patients who are currently abroad

We are not able to offer clinical advice to patients who are outside of the UK.  That includes advice on vaccinations.  We do not knowingly enter into communication with anyone who is currently outside the UK.  If you are outside of the UK and need advice, you must contact services in your area. 

It is not our responsibility to decide whether your vaccination will be recognised in the UK.  It is YOUR responsibility to check on the government website (see above).

Everything we know about the vaccination programme is written on this page.  If you contact us about the vaccination programme we will reply once with a copy of this text and we will delete the information you have sent us.  There will be no further reply.

The COVID vaccintion centre is brought to you by Cantab Primary Care Network (PCN).  

Cantab PCN in Cambridge is a collaboration between

Huntingdon Road Surgery

Red House Surgery 

Bridge Street Medical Centre

The vaccination centres are run by all three practices working together.

Eligible patients who are registered at any of the three practices will be able to book appointments on any day we are open.

Keep our phone lines free

It is absolutely essential that we keep our surgery phone lines free for patients who are ill.  Please wait for us to call you.

We know that some of you have received vaccination letters which do say "or call your GP practice" - but please don't.