Covid Vaccine Programme Update
We have now concluded our main Covid Vaccination Programme, with all patients aged 18 or over, and those ‘at risk’ from 16 years being offered 2 doses of covid vaccine. Between the staff from all 4 surgeries within our network (Pangbourne, Chapel Row, Theale and Mortimer), along with some amazing returning retirees and our wonderful team of volunteers, we have administered a total of 36,630 covid vaccines over the past 9 months. Thank you so much to everyone that has played a part in this remarkable achievement. Our covid vaccine email address, covid.vaccine1@nhs.net, is no longer in operation and our covid phone lines will now be our dedicated flu jab booking lines – though please see recent update regarding flu bookings and avoid calling until we update on the situation. Please, therefore, contact the surgery directly for any covid vaccine related queries. Patients registered elsewhere should contact their own surgery with any queries please.
If you are aged 18 or older, or aged 17 and within 3 months of your 18th birthday, and yet to be vaccinated, or are still due a 2nd dose, you can still book to have this done online at Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk) or by calling 119. There are also regular ‘pop-up’ and walk-in clinics available, information can be found here: West Berkshire Council – COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – Information
16 – 17 year olds
We also recently held clinics to vaccinate 16 – 17 year old patients. Please note, patients aged 16 up to 17 years and 9 months are only eligible for one dose at this time. If you are yet to receive this dose, you can still attend the clinic at The Broad Street Mall (no appointment necessary, 7 days a week) or check the link above for pop-up clinics offering to your age group.
Covid Booster Programme
We are still waiting on JCVI guidance and government approval to commence the Covid Booster Programme. We have signed up to deliver this programme and will update you as soon as we know more.
Eligible 12 – 15 year olds
A specific cohort of children, aged 12 – 15 years, is now also eligible for covid vaccination. This includes those with certain underlying health conditions, and those who live with someone that is immunosuppressed. We will be holding clinics for this cohort this weekend. We have identified those eligible due to underlying health conditions and will send invites shortly, along with those that we’ve been able to identify as living with someone immunosuppressed, however, this group is harder to find. If you believe a young person, aged 12 – 15, at your address fits the criteria below*, please contact the surgery online at Contact the Practice | The Boathouse Surgery (pangbournesurgery.co.uk) by Thursday 9th September and we will be in touch.
*Those aged 12 years and above who expect to share living accommodation on most days (and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable) with individuals of any age who are immunosuppressed, as defined by the JCVI
3rd Primary Dose for Immunosuppressed Patients
The JCVI have announced that some individuals who are immunosuppressed due to underlying health conditions or medical treatment may not mount a full immune response to primary COVID-19 vaccination, and therefore should be offered a 3rd dose. We are in the process of making plans for this cohort and will send out invites to book once clinics are in place, please wait to hear from us.