Key messages 

• COVID-19 is still with us, and the safety of NHS patients, visitors and staff is our top priority.
• In line with Government guidance, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt, and follow social distancing rules.
• This applies to all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies, to ensure patients and staff are protected.
• NHS teams will continue to take other infection prevention and control measures to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other infections in health and care settings.
• It is important for the public to continue to play their part when visiting NHS and care settings to help protect our staff and patients, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to infections.
• IF NEEDED: Decisions on what measures are taken across wider society are for government based on the advice they receive. It is important for the public to continue to play their part when visiting NHS and care settings to help protect our staff and patients. It is also important to make sure that you receive both doses of your vaccinations, as getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect you and your loved ones from coronavirus.

Key links

• You can read the infection prevention control guidance in full at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control
• The IPC measures recommended are underpinned by WHO guidance and the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) practice guide and associated literature reviews.

Rollout of the Covid Booster Vaccination in Somerset

The NHS has started delivering Covid booster jabs to people in eligible groups last week, as the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in health service history moves to the next stage.

We are now inviting eligible people, who had their second Covid jab at least six months ago, for a top up.

Hospital hubs have started vaccinating frontline health and care workers as well as identifying other eligible patients for their booster vaccine immediately, with local vaccination services to follow.

Please do not contact your GP regarding an appointment for the booster vaccine.

The NHS will contact people by letter or text, when they become eligible to have the booster vaccine. People can book their appointment through the National Booking Service.

Visit  Somerset CCG Covid vaccination programme for more information on the Somerset Covid Vaccination programme.

People do not need to contact the NHS to arrange their booster vaccine. The NHS will be in touch when people become eligible for the jab with around 4.5 million people in priority groups becoming eligible for a booster over the coming weeks.

People will get a call or text from their local site to get the jab, or will be invited by the National Booking Service.

Booster jabs are effective for topping up protection for people who have had both of their jabs from at the very least six months after their second dose.

The booster programme will be delivered through existing vaccination sites including pharmacies, hospital hubs, and vaccine centres.

Local NHS areas will be prioritising care home residents and staff ensuring they are offered a vaccine by the beginning of November.

Those who are eligible for the Covid booster jabs include:

• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 50 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers

COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS CERTIFICATES

We are unable to issue your Covid-19 vaccination status certificate at the practice. Please see here.

Proof of your vaccination status is available on the NHS App, which is also valuable for accessing your health records and ordering repeat prescriptions.

The NHS App can be downloaded from here for iPhone or here for android.
Alternatively you can call the NHS helpline on 119 and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine (2 doses), the letter may to take up to 5 days to reach you.

Opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data

NHS Digital will not collect any patient data for patients who have already registered a Type 1 Opt-out in line with current policy. If this changes patients who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out will be informed.

If you do not want your patient data shared with NHS Digital, you can register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice. You can register a Type 1 Opt-out at any time. You can also change your mind at any time and withdraw a Type 1 Opt-out.

Data sharing with NHS Digital will start on 1 September 2021.

If you have already registered a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice your data will not be shared with NHS Digital.

If you wish to register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice before data sharing starts with NHS Digital, this should be done by returning this form to your GP practice. If you have previously registered a Type 1 Opt-out and you would like to withdraw this, you can also use the form to do this. You can send the form by post or email to your GP practice or call 0300 3035678 for a form to be sent out to you.

If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after your patient data has already been shared with NHS Digital, no more of your data will be shared with NHS Digital. NHS Digital will however still hold the patient data which was shared with us

To find out more information and how to register a National Data Opt-Out, please read our GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice.

Thank you for your patience – 20/10/2021