Covid 19 - Latest information
Covid Spring Booster 2022
We are aware that some clinically vulnerable patients may have received an invite to attend for their Covid booster, but are not being given the booster when they attend. Please see the correspondance below from SDHC which explains the very strict criteria for vaccination in any patient under the age of 75.
We continue to work with South Downs Health and Care (SDHC) in providing COVID Vaccines at the Crumbles Vaccination Centre, Eastbourne. The Booster programme is underway for those aged 75 and over as well as those who are immunocompromised (strict criteria as below). Children aged 5-11 Years Old can also book to be vaccinated. The easiest way to book in your vaccine is via the following website: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
SDHC will commence Vaccinations for eligible patients that are housebound in the near future.
Should you have any queries about the COVID vaccine, SDHC can be contacted at sdhc.vaccinations@nhs.net. Please do not book unless you are over 75 years old or fit the immunocompromised criteria as below. We appreciate that there will be some vulnerable patients who do not fit the above national guidance, if you think you might fall into a group needing the booster vaccine but are not on the list above, please email SDHC who can advise based on the Government and JCVI guidance.
SDHC continue to provide the vaccine programme on behalf of the practice, please do not contact the practice regarding COVID Vaccines.
The criteria for immunocompromised patients is:
Criteria for a Booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in those aged 12 years and above Individuals with primary or acquired immunodeficiency states at the time of vaccination due to conditions including:
- acute and chronic leukaemias, and clinically aggressive lymphomas (including Hodgkin’s lymphoma) who were under treatment or within 12 months of achieving cure at the time of vaccination
- individuals under follow up for a chronic lymphoproliferative disorders including haematological malignancies such as indolent lymphoma, chronic lymphoid leukaemia, myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and other plasma cell dyscrasias (Note: this list is not exhaustive)
- adults and children aged 12 years and over with immunosuppression due to HIV/AIDS with a current CD4 count of < 3g/L) due to primary immunodeficiency (e.g. common variable immunodeficiency) or secondary to disease / therapy Individuals on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy at the time of vaccination including:
- those who were receiving immunosuppressive therapy for a solid organ transplant at the time of vaccination
- those who were receiving or had received in the previous 3 months targeted therapy for autoimmune disease, such as JAK inhibitors or biologic immune modulators including B-cell targeted therapies (including rituximab but in this case the recipient would be considered immunosuppressed for a 6 month period), T-cell co-stimulation modulators, monoclonal tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), soluble TNF receptors, interleukin (IL)-6 receptor inhibitors., IL-17 inhibitors, IL 12/23 inhibitors, IL 23 inhibitors. (Note: this list is not exhaustive)
- those who were receiving or had received immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy for any indication in the 6 months before vaccination Individuals with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease who were receiving or had received immunosuppressive therapy prior to vaccination including:
- high dose corticosteroids (equivalent to ≥ 20mg prednisolone per day) for more than 10 days in the month before vaccination
- long term moderate dose corticosteroids (equivalent to ≥10mg prednisolone per day for more than 4 weeks) in the 3 months before vaccination
- non-biological oral immune modulating drugs, such as methotrexate >20mg per week (oral and subcutaneous), azathioprine >3.0mg/kg/day; 6-mercaptopurine >1.5mg/kg/day, mycophenolate >1g/day) in the 3 months before vaccination
- certain combination therapies at individual doses lower than above, including those on ≥7.5mg prednisolone per day in combination with other immunosuppressants (other than hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine) and those receiving methotrexate (any dose) with leflunomide in the 3 months before vaccination Individuals who had received high dose steroids (equivalent to >40mg prednisolone per day for more than a week) for any reason in the month before vaccination
Covid update - 04.01.22
Throughout the pandemic we have strived to make the surgery as safe as possible for all our patients and staff. We will continue to do so going forward.
From the 27th January nothing will change at the surgery - patients will need to still wear a mask, socially distance and use hand sanitiser in the surgery and staff will continue to wear PPE. We do understand that it can be frustrating but we know that when people come to us they are sick and vulnerable (and some cannot receive the Covid vaccinations due to medical reasons) so we feel it would be wrong to not take these small precautions that can protect people.
Thank you for you patience and understanding.
Covid vaccination update - 31.03.21
VACCINATION PROGRAMME UPDATE FROM SDHC FEDERATION
FIRST DOSES
Our COVID-19 vaccination programme is working within Government guidelines and we are continuing to focus on offering first doses of the Covid 19 vaccination to those aged 50 and over.
Vaccine supply for April has been restricted and if you are contacted to attend a vaccination appointment, please make every effort to attend. It may be the last opportunity to receive a first vaccination for some weeks.
SECOND DOSES
If you are due a second vaccination dose you will be invited to attend our vaccination centre in the 11th week following your first vaccination. Second dose vaccination supplies have not been restricted.
NEW SITE FROM 6th APRIL 2021
As leisure facilities are opening up, we are having to move our vaccination centre. The new vaccination centre is at;
Harbour Community Centre,
The Crumbles,
Pevensey Bay Road,
Eastbourne
BN23 6JH.
Map for Community centre and parking
Harbour community centre and Parking
https://www.google.com/search?q=Harbour+Community+Centre%2C+The+Crumbles%2C+Pevensey+Bay+Road%2C+Eastbourne+BN23+6JH&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB886GB886&oq=Harbour+Community+Centre%2C+The+Crumbles%2C+Pevensey+Bay+Road%2C+Eastbourne+BN23+6JH&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i60l2.921j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
The centre will be clearly signposted and there is ample parking a short walk away with clearly marked routes to the centre. The centre is on the Bus route 5A but other buses also go to the Harbour area. https://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables
For any queries the best way to contact is via email sdhc.vaccinations@nhs.net and someone will get back to you. Our phone number for emergency issues only is 03301244002. Please do NOT contact your Practice
Covid vaccination update - 09.03.2021
1st Vaccines:
Our vaccination programme continues to deliver vaccines in line with the Governments priority cohorts. Over 93% of the top four priority cohorts have now received a first dose vaccination. Currently we are offering vaccinations to those aged 16-64 with an underlying health condition. SDHC GP Federation are running our vaccination centre, we would strongly encourage you to book your appointment when contacted by SDHC.
From 15th March we hope that the supply of vaccines will increase and SDHC will be contacting other patient groups (60 – 64), (55 – 59) and (50 – 54). You may also receive an invite from the national vaccination programme to attend a mass vaccination site and it is your choice if you take this.
2nd Vaccines:
From the 15th March 2021 SDHC will start to call some patients for their second doses . If you received a vaccine at Hampden Park just before New Year, you will shortly be receiving an invitation to attend a 2nd dose vaccination appointment on or shortly after 16th March 2021. Invitations for second doses will then be made in line with vaccine delivery and within 12 weeks of your first dose.
AS WITH ALL VACCINATION QUERIES, PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SURGERY TO ASK WHEN YOUR VACCINE WILL BE – OUR PARTNER, SDHC GP FEDERATION WILL CONTACT YOU
For other queries email: sdhc.vaccinations@nhs.net
Vaccination Centre news
In line with the government’s plan to end lockdown, we have been asked to vacate the Sovereign Centre by 5th April to allow the leisure centre to reopen. A new location is being prepared and further details will follow shortly.
COVID VACCINATION PROGRAMME 19th January 2021
Our GP Federation, SDHC, is delivering the vaccination programme on behalf of the Practice. They are currently working through the Governments national priority list of people who need to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. As of today, over 50% of over 80 year olds have received a vaccination. By the end of today, 19 January 2021, SDHC will have attempted to contact all patients on the list at least once.
If patients who are over the age of 80 have not heard from SDHC Thursday 21st of January, an appointment letter will be sent to them. The letter will detail their appointment date and time. This should arrive with patients within the next two or three days, post allowing, and the appointments will be from Sunday 23rd onwards.
Following patient feedback, appointments will be offered between 10.00 and 15.00. The aim is to complete the first vaccination for the vast majority of over 80 vaccinations by Saturday 30th January.
At the same time that the over 80’s are being called, the Government has also asked that other groups are prioritised for vaccinations. These include health and social care workers, care home residents and staff.
You are probably also aware that the Government has also asked that people over 70 and the extremely clinically vulnerable start being called for vaccinations. We continue to prioritise the over 80s before moving onto the next group of patients. Please be assured that we are vaccinating people as fast as we can, in line with government priorities and within the limited supply of vaccines we have received to date.
You will be hearing from SDHC very soon. Please DO NOT contact your Practice about the Covid vaccination programme.
4th January 2021
We are pleased to advise that our practice is part of the National Vaccination programme which will take place at hospitals and other local settings. We are following detailed national NHS guidance. In summary:
You will not be vaccinated at the Practice at this time - this is because of the issues with storage and transportation of the current vaccine. We are asking patients to attend a vaccination centre in Eastbourne. This will be confirmed when you book an appointment.
You may be contacted directly by the vaccination centre - with our agreement and to help the prctice manage the large volumes of calls we anticipate will be generated by this effort, it is likely that the vaccination centre (provided by our local GP Federation) will contact you directly to arrange your appointment.
Patients will be invited for vaccinations in line with National Guidelines - please be patient as we work through the priority list.
Please do not contact the Practice about appointment availability or when you are likely to be called for you vaccination - We do not have any further information at the moment.
**COVID VACCINE UPDATE - DECEMBER 2020**
The NHS is rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations across Sussex. People are being invited to an appointment in order of national guidance, starting with those over 80. You don't need to call the Surgery - you will be contacted as soon as the NHS is able to offer you the vaccination. For further information please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Thank you for your support
You do not require your NHS number to receive your Covid vaccination - please do not contact the surgery as we are unable to provide this over the telephone. You can find your NHS number on hospital letters, repeat prescription slips or by the NHS APP and patient access. Information on how to download these apps can be found under the appointments tab.
Dr Writer has created a Q&A sheet of frequently asked questions. Please read our attached Q&A sheet.
Covid 19 Frequently asked questions
Useful information - Please follow the links below to access the most up to date on the Government and NHS websites.
Government - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Helpful resources during Covid-19 - Pleas see below for a list of resources available, including mental health support.
Covid-19 resources
NHS support information after Covid:
https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/