Get your booster vaccine as soon as invited – plea

HEALTH bosses in the South West are urging people who are eligible for the Covid19 booster vaccination to book an appointment as soon as they are invited.

The national booking system for booster jabs opened on September 21, after the initial two doses of protection against the coronavirus were rolled out to more than 45 million people in the UK.

And more than four million people in the South West have now received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, according to official government data.

However, the region has recently seen some of the biggest coronavirus rate spikes in the UK.

On Saturday, it was reported that four of the five areas with the biggest week-on-week rises for Covid cases were within the South West.

Cheltenham saw the biggest rise with the rate of cases per 100,000 rising from 180.1 to 1,304.7 in just a week. Stroud, Tewkesbury and

Swindon all featured in the top five from the South West.

And health officials are now urging eligible people to get their booster jab to protect themselves from illness over winter.

Dr Julie Yates, lead consultant for screening and immunisations at NHS England and NHS Improvement South West, said: “It’s important we don’t become complacent about Covid-19.

“We need those who are eligible to book their booster now. It gives people that are most likely to

become seriously ill from Covid-19, and those who care for them, the best possible protection.

“With infection rates, hospital admissions and deaths increasing across the region, it is vital that you book your booster vaccination as soon as you are invited.”

Those eligible for a booster Covid-19 vaccination include everyone aged 50 and over, frontline health and social care workers and those aged 16 to 49 with an underlying health condition which puts them at greater risk from the virus.