Third Covid vaccine dose for severely immunosuppressed patients

We have been asked to contact our patients identified via the GP COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and offer a third primary dose Covid vaccine.

The JCVI guidance states: “The specialist involved should advise on whether the patient fulfils the eligibility criteria and on the timing of any third primary dose. In general, vaccines administered during periods of minimum immunosuppression (where possible) are more likely to generate better immune responses. The third primary dose should ideally be given at least 8 weeks after the second dose, with special attention paid to current or planned immunosuppressive therapies guided by the following principles:

• where possible, the third primary dose should be delayed until 2 weeks after the period of immunosuppression, in addition to the time period for clearance of the therapeutic agent

• if not possible, consideration should be given to vaccination during a treatment ‘holiday’ or at a nadir of immunosuppression between doses of treatment”

Patients falling into this group should have been contacted by their specialist. If this has not happened yet, please contact the specialist you are under for the advice on the timing of your third primary dose. Once you have all the details, please contact the surgery to book your 3rd vaccination

Sanja Todorovic

Practice Manager

Watling Medical Centre

Telephones

Dear Patients

Sincere apologies about issues you may be experiencing when calling us. This is a much wider issue and our phone provider is currently working on trying to resolve it. Please try calling us later or fill in an econsult available on our website.

Watling Medical Centre

Flu vaccination for over 65s vaccine delivery delay

Dear Patients,

We have just been informed that our over 65s flu vaccines delivery will be delayed until beginning of October. If you have already booked your flu vaccination for 25th and 26th September we will contact you either by SMS or phone call to rearrange your appointment once we receive further updates. We are not in a position to book any further appointments for now. We sincerely apologise about this issue.