Don’t delay and book your vaccination appointment if you have been invited

If you have received an invitation to book your vaccination then book your appointment straight away and don’t put it off.

Letters are being sent to residents across Stockport by the NHS inviting those people from across the priority groups to book their vaccination appointment.

People in priority group 5 (65-69 years old) should have had an invitation from either the NHS or their GP. People in these groups should therefore follow the instructions in their invitation and book their vaccination appointment straight away.

If you are in priority group 6 (16-64 year olds with serious underlying health conditions) you will be contacted by your GP practice to book your appointment. As this is a large group of patients not everyone will be contacted at the same time. If you haven’t heard anything yet, don’t worry it won’t be long.

For those in priority group 7 (60-64 year olds) many people will have already received an invitation over the past few days or will be contacted soon. If you are in this group and have received an invitation you need to book your appointment with the National Booking Service.

On Saturday, 6 March, 2021 the National Booking Service was opened to people in priority group 8 (55-59 year olds), and groups 9 (50-54 year olds) and 10 (40-49 year olds) will follow over the next couple of weeks.

Letters for priority groups 7-10 will be sent from the national booking service with an invitation to book an appointment at the Etihad Campus mass vaccination centre, Etihad Campus and designated community pharmacies.

It is still important that people do not contact their local GP or the NHS until they receive their letter which will explain how to make an appointment through the national booking service.

If people cannot get to the mass vaccination centre at the Etihad Campus they can wait to receive a vaccination appointment from their local GP practice, but they must wait for their GP to contact them and there may be a longer wait for an appointment.

The booking service can be contacted via the NHS website www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week, if you cannot book online.

Dr Cath Briggs, Chair of NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“I urge anybody who has been invited for a vaccination to book their appointment straight away. The vaccination programme in Stockport has been a huge success so far and it is important that we continue to build on this momentum by vaccinating as many of our residents as possible. This will slow down the rate of transmission and protect the most vulnerable from serious illness.

“It’s almost hard to believe the level of vaccination we have achieved in such a short period. Thanks to everyone involved in planning and delivery of the programme and to the residents of Stockport for supporting it. Stockport should be very proud.”

Councillor Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health at Stockport Council, said:

“Every single person who has had the vaccination is helping to make Stockport a safer, healthier place for its residents so thank you to those who have already had it and please accept the offer when you receive your invitation.

“Also, remember that while the vaccine does seem to have an effect on breaking the transmission we also need to stick to other methods of stopping the transmission of the virus such as social distancing (2 metres), face coverings (unless exempt), regularly cleaning surfaces, washing and sterilising hands regularly and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated.”

Andrew Loughney, Medical Director at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are very pleased with the high numbers of people who have already been vaccinated in Stockport, thanks to both the efforts of those administering the vaccines and the enthusiastic response of those receiving them.

“If you’ve been invited please book your appointment as soon as possible so we can continue with this success in protecting our public and each other.”

It is not too late for those in priority groups 1-4 to get their vaccination. This includes care home staff and residents, anyone over the age of 70, and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Those who have not received an appointment in these groups, or were unable to accept one due to illness, self-isolating or any other reason can still book an appointment using the National Booking Centre or their local GP.