Published on: 7 September 2022

From Monday 3rd October 2022 we will begin our STSFT winter vaccination programme.

We will be offering colleagues the opportunity to have both their flu and COVID-19 booster. This is the first winter since the pandemic when we will see the return of the normal flu season, so it will be especially important for colleagues to protect themselves against both viruses.

This year the Trust will receive the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine which was recently approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The bivalent vaccine is designed to target both the original and Omicron variant of COVID-19 and offers enhanced protection against the current main variants circulating in the UK.

We will be holding clinics in our three main hospital sites and community venues. We are also looking into drop in clinics on the wards. We will share more details of this when we have it.

Colleagues will receive an invitation to book the vaccine by email from the last week in September. We are asking clinical staff and those who are classed as higher risk / immunosuppressed to only book appointments for the first couple of weeks. After that we will open clinics to non-clinical staff.

  1. Booking an appointment

This year we will be using our occupational health management system, OPAS to book appointments. All colleagues (including CHoICE and STICL) will be sent an email from the last week in September with instructions on how to log into the system.

Once you are in the system you can either:

  • Choose and book a convenient appointment
  • Decline to have the vaccinations
  • Provide details of vaccination if you have already received it from your GP / pharmacy (so we can update your records)

You will be sent regular email reminders until you choose one of the three options above. If you book an appointment you will be sent reminders by email and text.

You can opt to have the COVID-19 booster and flu jab together, or you can book separate appointments if you would prefer to have them individually.

LET doctors, students and NHSP staff will need to contact occupational health on 0191 5699029. The team will then give you access to the booking system and will need your name, date of birth and email address.

Please note – you can only have the COVID-19 booster if it has been more than three months since your last dose or four weeks after COVID-19 infection. If you have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine you must contact Occupational Health on 0191 5699029 as you will need to have the Pfizer vaccine.

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW

You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine at the clinics – please do not just turn up. You will need your NHS number to book an appointment and must be registered with a GP. You will also be asked to complete a consent form.  You must bring your ID badge and NHS number when you attend for your appointment.

PLEASE NOTE: We fully expect demand for appointments to be high.

If you cannot get an appointment immediately, please be assured that everyone who wants a vaccination will get one. Please do not to turn up to the clinics expecting to be vaccinated unless you have an appointment.

 

  1. Guidance for your appointment
  • Please wear a short sleeved top or shirt as the vaccinations are given in your upper arm. If you need to change, you should do so before your appointment.
  • Please arrive for your appointment on time.

If you have received your COVID-19 booster or flu jab outside the Trust

If you have already been contacted by your GP or the NHS to have your flu jab and/or your COVID-19 booster jab and decide to take up the appointment, please provide details in the OPAS system so we can make sure your records are updated.

Frequently asked questions:

Why am I being offered a COVID-19 booster?

Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to wane over time. This booster dose will help extend the protection you gained from the doses you have already received and give you longer term protection. The booster will help to reduce the risk of you needing admission to hospital due to COVID-19 infection this winter.

 

Which COVID-19 vaccine will I be offered?

You will be given a booster dose of the SpikeVax (Moderna) vaccine. This is a bivalent vaccine which means that it offers protection against the two main current variants in the UK.

If you have not received the COVID-19 before, or if you have any allergies / health issues that have meant you could only receive certain vaccines you will need to contact the occupational health team.

Why are we not receiving AstraZeneca / Pfizer again?

Work to improve vaccines is happening all of the time as we learn more about the virus. The Spikevax vaccine has been developed to protect against the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant. This means it is more likely to protect you and others from both of the dominant strains that are circulating in the country at the moment. Spikevax is made by Moderna who were one of the first to develop a vaccine against COVID-19.

Flu hasn’t been that bad the last two years. Do I need a vaccine?

There have been very low levels of flu circulating in the last two years due to measures that were in place to reduce COVID-19 infections, such as social distancing and mask-wearing. There is likely to be a resurgence of flu this winter similar to or higher than the levels before the pandemic because people will be mixing more. Flu and COVID-19 can both be life-threatening and spread more easily in winter when we are more likely to be indoors or in crowded spaces.

Is it safe to have both vaccines together?

It is perfectly safe to have both vaccines at the same time.

Is there anyone who shouldn’t have a booster?

There are very few people who should not have a booster.

If you had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine you should discuss this with a clinician / doctor.

Can I receive the booster if I am pregnant / breastfeeding?

Yes vaccination is recommended for pregnant women in particular to protect you and your unborn child.

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Royal College of Midwives have also produced information to help you make an informed choice about getting vaccinated. If you are trying to conceive, this should not affect your decision about vaccination. There is no evidence that the vaccines cause problems with fertility, or that they will cause any problems for women wanting to become pregnant now or in the future.

I’m not sure about taking the vaccines. Can I talk to someone?

Yes. Our Consultant Virologist, Richard Capstick is helping to lead the winter vaccination programme. Richard is an expert in infectious diseases. You can contact Richard at richard.capstick@nhs.net. 

 

  1. Further information

The patient information leaflet for Spikevax can be found here.

Information about the flu vaccination can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

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