Kent and Medway hits milestone in Covid-19 vaccination programme
The NHS in Kent and Medway met its first national milestone in the vaccination programme this week by offering vaccinations to everyone in the top four priority groups: people aged 70 and over, those on the shielded patient list (considered clinically extremely vulnerable), older adults in care homes and frontline health and care workers.
Together, this achievement means we have delivered a total of 455,910 vaccines in Kent and Medway, protecting hundreds of thousands of people from the worst effects of this deadly virus.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the most complex and important health intervention of our lifetimes – this was an ambitious target and it would not have been possible without the collective effort of so many people across the Kent and Medway health and care system.
If you have not yet had your first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and are either 65 years and older, on the shielded patient list (considered clinically extremely vulnerable) or a frontline health and social care worker, you can book your first dose appointment through the national booking system.
You can book online or by phoning 119.
Read our latest vaccine programme update on our website
Thousands more people invited for Covid-19 vaccine
The NHS is now offering vaccinations to people aged over 65 and those who have underlying health conditions. These two groups are cohorts five and six as indicated by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI.)
Cohort five is people aged 65 to 69. If you are in this group, you will receive a letter from the national booking service and you can book an appointment at one of our large vaccination sites or community pharmacy services.
Cohort six includes people aged 16 to 64 with certain underlying health conditions and carers. They will be invited by their GP surgery for a vaccination appointment.
More details on our website: www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/covid19vaccine
More people to be asked to stay at home and shield
The Government has announced (16th February) that many more people, who may be at serious risk from Covid-19, will be asked to stay at home and shield.
More people to be asked to stay at home and shield
The Government has announced (16th February) that many more people, who may be at serious risk from Covid-19, will be asked to stay at home and shield.
New technology has allowed clinicians to identify people for whom a combination of factors puts them at greater risk from Covid-19.
If you are one of these people, you will be sent a letter from NHS England in the coming days with further advice.
If you are over 70, you will have already been invited for a covid vaccine, but adults aged between 19 and 69 years, who fall within the new group, will now be prioritised and invited to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Kent Together has information online about support available for people who are advised to shield or you can call 03000 41 92 92.
Medway Council has information online about support for people who are advised to shield or you can call 01634 333 103.
Free school meals
With schools operating differently due to the Covid pandemic, and many families financially worse off, your child (or grandchild) might now be eligible for free school meals due to a change in circumstance.
If your child is under 19 and in full-time education, you can check if you can get free school meals for them on Kent County Council's or Medway Council's website.
Read the full bulletin at >> http://bit.ly/3dwmI0g
NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group
