COVID booster jabs are now being given at walk-in vaccination sites with no appointment needed as the NHS aims to ramp up vaccine uptake – but in Oxford that means a journey of more than 22 miles.
People aged 50 and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk are being offered a booster jab of the vaccine which offers extra protection against coronavirus. The NHS hope the extra dose will help people who have been double-jabbed retain their immunity and reduce the risk of people needing hospital admission this winter.
From this week it is being offered to people who had their second jab more than six months ago.
Read also: When can I get Covid booster vaccine? Everything you need to know
Patients are being urged to use an NHS online walk-in finder to check for their nearest centre. However the county's mass vaccination centre at Oxford's Kassam Stadium is not offering booster jabs for walk-in patients, insisting people have to book an appointment.
People in Oxfordshire searching for a booster jab at a walk-in site on the NHS site are being directed to centres in Aylesbury, 22 miles away, or 27 miles away to Newbury.
While the centre at the Kassam Stadium is open for walk-in vaccinations for first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine, it will only offer a booster jab to people with a prior appointment.
A spokesman for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the centre, said"At present we are not taking walk-ins for boosters at the Kassam. We are encouraging anyone who wants to visit the mass vaccination centre to book an appointment."
Read also: Covid booster jabs now available at walk-in sites
First and second doses of Pfizer and booster jabs are available at a walk-in clinic at Exeter Hall in Kidlington, but only on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am-1pm and 2-5pm – ruling out most people who work or study during the day.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme still encouraged the public to get their booster jabs. She said: “NHS staff are making it as easy as possible for people to get their top-up vaccination, and from today people can now go online, find their nearest site and go and get their booster without delay.
“The booster is not just nice to have, it is really important protection ahead of what we know will be a challenging winter.
“So if you are eligible, please do check the site finder and go get your jab.”
NHS England said more than six million people have had a booster jab or a third dose – the latter being given to people with severely weakened immune systems.
To find the closest walk-in location that is offering booster covid jabs visit the 'find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site' section of the NHS website.
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