THE NHS has promised more appointments for Covid booster jabs will be available in Herefordshire as the rollout is sped up.

In an address to the nation on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed plans for all over-18s to have a booster jab by the end of the year in England.

The move came in response to concerns over the Omicron Covid variant.

In Herefordshire, the NHS has said appointments, which can be booked via its website, will continue to be added for a number of sites.

The sites, according to the Herefordshire and Worcester Clinical Commissioning group, are Elgar House in Holmer Road, Hereford; Day Lewis Pharmacy in Grandstand Road, Hereford; Bromyard Public Hall in Rowberry Street, and Kington Medical Practice in Eardisley Road.

These sites are not offering walk-ins, according to the NHS website.

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Appointments will also be added regularly for the Three Counties Showground in Malvern and other Worcestershire sites, the spokesperson said.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today, the CCG said.

The National Booking Service (NBS) will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab.

 

People queuing outside the coronavirus vaccination centre at Bromyard Public Hall

People queuing outside the coronavirus vaccination centre at Bromyard Public Hall

Over the next week, opening hours for vaccine centres in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be extended and both counties will have centres available that are open seven days a week, it said.

Over the coming weeks GP teams and some hospital services may be asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the Covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care.

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This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Some NHS staff will also be redeployed so that they can focus on protecting the local population as quickly as possible and military aid will be in place to support NHS staff with planning for the extra vaccinations.

Simon Trickett, chief executive officer for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG said: “Our health and care staff were already working incredibly hard to deliver Covid-19 vaccines as swiftly as possible, but the threat posed by Omicron is significant.

“That is why the Government has asked us to prioritise boosters over other routine care.

“I know that staff across our two counties will again do everything they can to rise to this challenge, and ensure the Covid-19 vaccination programme provides as much protection as possible as we prepare for a new wave of infections that could be even greater than those that have gone before.”

Dr Ian Tait, GP and clinical chair for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG said: “Booster jabs offer people who have had both of their initial vaccinations further protection against Covid-19 by topping up their body’s resistance to the virus. I would encourage anyone who is eligible to take up the offer ahead of Christmas.

“If you haven’t yet had both initial doses of Covid-19 vaccine, I would urgently encourage you to do so; it is not too late to book an appointment.”