COVID-19 Vaccine
If you are unsure or hesitant about receiving the vaccine click here for more information.
- COVID-19 Vaccinations for Carers
GROUP 6: At the same time as adults under 65 years with long term conditions, the vaccine will also be offered to unpaid adult carers - those who are in receipt of a carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
Any patients seeking to be verified as a carer should contact the Sefton Carers Centre on 0151 288 6060 or at their website at Sefton Carers Centre. They will inform the practice of respective individuals who will require inviting for vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination programme – what you need to know
The NHS is making good progress rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
This page provides information about how this is happening in Sefton and how you
can support us to do this.
We understand most people are keen to know when they will receive their vaccination and
we are asking for your support and patience as we work through everyone who needs a
vaccine.
You will be contacted when it’s your turn to be vaccinated, so please do not contact your GP
practice or another NHS organisation to ask for your vaccination in the meantime.
For information about the COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS website, click here
How the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is working in Sefton
GP led services
Our GP led services are a central part of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Our practices are working together in groups with support from the CCG to deliver vaccinations as quickly as possible to their patients in order of priority – starting in late December 2020 with care home staff and residents, people aged over 80 and frontline health and care staff before moving to other groups.
They have set up dedicated centres where you can get your vaccine safely, so your appointment is unlikely to be at the practice you are registered with. Importantly, you should not drop in to any of our GP led vaccination sites in the borough – they are strictly by appointment only.
Following the NHS vaccine delivery plan the GP led service offered the vaccine first to those at highest risk of catching the disease and of suffering serious complications or dying from COVID-19. Once the first group is complete they will then move on to the next priority group and will keep doing so until all priority groups have been vaccinated.
Not all parts of Sefton were able to start vaccinating at the same time, so don’t worry if you have not been contacted yet, we will get to you.
We will contact you as soon as we are able to book you in for your vaccine - please don’t call
your GP practice.
More information on the priority groups can be found here and the image below shows how
the NHS is working through this.
In addition to GP led services, you may also be contacted by the following:
NHS COVID-19 national booking service
Some residents are receiving letters from the national service inviting them to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or by phone at a special regional vaccination centre (like St Helens Rugby Club), or a community pharmacy.
Importantly, anyone who is unable to go to a regional vaccination centre, or who would prefer to have their vaccination via the GP led vaccination service does not need to take any action. They will still be automatically contacted by the local GP led service, as it works through its lists of registered patients in order of priority.
Hospital services
These services are focusing on vaccinating frontline health and care workers. However, some people may have been contacted to have the vaccine as an inpatient or at an outpatient appointment at the start of the programme.
How you can help
We ask for your support and patience as we continue to roll out the programme. Please be assured, you will be contacted when it is your turn to be vaccinated. In the meantime, we ask that you:
● Do not contact your GP or the NHS, we will contact you
● When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments
Remember, it is really important we all continue to follow the guidance to stop the spread of the virus by following:
● Hands - wash your hands frequently
● Face - use a face covering or mask
● Space - keep your distance from people
Even if you have received a first dose of vaccine, you should still continue to follow these rules to keep you and those around you safe and free from COVID-19.
About the vaccine
Vaccine safety
There are currently two vaccines being supplied for use in the national vaccination programme. They are the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines.
The NHS will not offer any COVID-19 vaccinations to the public until independent experts have signed off that it is safe to do so.
The MHRA, the official UK regulator, has said the vaccines it has approved so far have good safety profiles and offer a high level of protection, and we have full confidence in their expert judgement and processes.
As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process, and there is continued monitoring once it has been authorised and is being used in the wider population.
Click to watch a video on vaccine safety
Frequently asked questions
Click here to read some FAQs for Sefton residents.
Avoiding fraud
To protect yourself and your family members from fraud, please remember the following points:
● The NHS will never ask for bank details, PIN numbers or passwords when contacting you about a vaccination. You will never be charged for the vaccine.
● Any communication which claims to be from the NHS but asks for payment, or bank details, is fraudulent and can be ignored. If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
● If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
● Where a victim is vulnerable, and particularly if you are worried that someone has or might come to your house, report it to the Police either online or by calling 101.
For more information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, please visit the NHS website.
COVID-19 vaccine information in alternative languages
Doctors of the World has produced information on the COVID-19 vaccine translated into 60 languages. Click here to access the information.
Click here to access COVID-19 vaccine leaflets in a range of languages from NHS England.
Click here for links to videos including FAQs in five South Asian languages (Gujarati, Punjabi,
Sylheti, Tamil, Urdu).
Click here for a myth busting video in English from Dr Iram Sattar (GP & MWNUK Trustee). Iram debunks the misinformation surrounding the newly established Covid-19 vaccine and encourages everyone to take the vaccine when offered.
Vaccine safety information in alternative languages
The following videos explaining the safety and effectiveness of vaccines have been filmed in alternative languages and shared by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Click here to watch in Arabic.
Click here to watch in Chinese.
Click here to watch in Nepali.
Click here to watch in Nigerian (Yoruba).
Click here to watch in Polish (part 1).
Click here to watch in Polish (part 2).
Click here to watch in Romanian.
Click here to watch in Pashto.
Click here to watch in Farsi/Dari.