Following Clinical Commissioning guidelines we are unable to provide letters to support early COVID vaccination (2nd) requests unless required for specific clinical reasons. We will not provide letters to support early vaccination for travel purposes. 

If travelling from May 17^th you may be required to prove your COVID-19 vaccination status. This can be accessed using the NHS App or if you don’t have access to a smartphone then you can contact 119 for a paper copy. For further information please follow this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

For any questions regarding the COVID-19 Vaccination, please follow this link to FAQs published Kirklees CCG. 

https://www.kirkleesccg.nhs.uk/your-health/health-campaigns/covid-19-vaccination/covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions/

The Joint Committee for Vaccinations & Immunisations has updated its guidance for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. It has recommended that people under 40 are offered an alternative vaccination where available and where this will not cause delays to people having the vaccine.

This follows ongoing reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Both the JCVI and MHRA have emphasised that the risk is extremely small – just over 10 people in every million have developed this condition - and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.

However, given current vaccines supplies and that infection rates are increasingly coming under control in the UK, the JCVI has recommended taking this precautionary measure for younger people. This takes into account that this rare condition is seen more often in younger people and that the risks from COVID-19 decrease with age.

The latest guidance is as follows:

• Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, irrespective of age, unless they suffered any serious side effects after their first vaccination. Having the second dose is very important as it will give you higher and longer lasting protection.
• People over 40 or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The benefits in protecting them against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition.
• People aged 18-39 who do not have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease will be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine where available. It is important that you have the vaccination as soon as possible to protect you and to reduce the chance of passing on the virus.
• People under 40 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they have been made aware of the guidance.

Please see the updated leaflet below that has been produced by Public Health England and the NHS to answer any questions you may have

Leaflet on COVID-19 Vaccination and Blood Clotting

The COVID-19 vaccine will always be available free of charge.

The NHS will NEVER ask you to share your bank details to confirm your identity.

NHS England has established a centralised service for the management of both the COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccination programmes. This service is supported by a central system, the Immunisation Management System.

When you attend for your Covid-19 vaccination a record will be made that you have been vaccinated and when. Normally, vaccinations are undertaken in GP settings. However, the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine is being undertaken in a variety of care settings.  

NHS England is responsible for processing your personal data for the purposes of the national vaccination programme. To find out more, you can access the NHS England privacy notice at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy-notice/.