Across the NHS in South West London, we are working hard to deliver the national promise of offering every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year. This will help protect local people against the Omicron variant.
Over the coming days, we are working to extend opening hours for our vaccine centres and dramatically increase the number of available appointments that people can book. The NHS has already stepped up to the mark and delivered the fastest and most successful vaccination programme in health service history and staff are once again doing everything possible to increase the number of appointments available every day. Please see below three ways you can help support the vaccination programme.
Online bookings are now available for all those in their 30s and above and who had their second dose 3 months ago or more at www.nhs.uk This national booking service will open to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.
We are encouraging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital vaccination to help manage long queues forming at many of our walk-in clinics. People are likely to queue for longer if they choose a walk in clinic, as sites are busy. We are grateful to those who choose to walk-in for being patient and kind to our staff who are working hard to vaccinate everybody. Information about walk in clinics are updated on our website regularly at: Walk-in and pop up vaccination clinics - South West London CCG (swlondonccg.nhs.uk)
We are also keen to remind those who have not yet taken up the offer of the vaccine, it is never too late to get your first or second dose. The Covid-19 vaccinations are safe and effective and give us the best protection against the serious complications of COVID-19.
This step-up in our programme comes the week after marking the one-year anniversary of delivering the first Covid-19 vaccinations outside of a clinical trial last Wednesday 8 December 2021. Over this year we are very proud to have administered over 2.5 million vaccines in South West London.
To mark this ‘annivaxary’ and celebrate the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers across South West London, we have created this short film https://vimeo.com/653703044/deeddf7585 Please do to share this across your networks to thank all our partners but also to encourage local people to come forward for their vaccine – click to share on Twitter or Facebook.
Three ways you can support the Covid-19 vaccination programme
We are grateful for your continued support in sharing our key messages about the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Please help us by
1. Using the ‘Get boosted now’ materials across your social media channels. Click here to share
2. Sharing information with local residents. Click here to retweet SW London GP Dr Mohan Sekeram on why getting the booster is important and use the Q&A below in your newsletters and websites
3 We are encouraging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital vaccination at www.nhs.uk/covid-booster this is to help us manage long queues forming at many of our walk-in clinics. People are likely to queue for longer if they choose a walk in clinic, as sites are busy. Walk in sessions are available Croydon, including Centrale Shopping Centre here, Valley Park Surgery here, Impact House here and Croydon Health Services here.
We want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone that has been involved in the vaccination programme so far. Our staff and volunteers continue to work incredibly hard and thank you to you and your teams, and all our partners, for the huge support in the largest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.
Best wishes,
Matthew Kershaw
Place Based Leader for Health
Dr Agnelo Fernandes
GP Borough Lead for Croydon
NHS South West London Clinical Commissioning Group
