Autumn boosters – health and social care staff eligibility

The national COVID-19 vaccination programme is now running its autumn booster campaign. The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) has identified frontline social care workers as eligible for a booster.

Through vaccination of our frontline social care workforce, we aim to help protect those most at risk from COVID-19 from seriously illness and death.

Staff may also fall into one of the other eligible categories and may be contacted by the NHS and invited for a booster.  The current eligible groups include anyone who is

• aged 50 or over
• pregnant
• aged 5 and over and at high risk due to a health condition
• aged 5 and over and at high risk because of a weakened immune system
• aged 5 and over and live with someone who has a weakened immune system
• aged 16 and over and a carer, either paid or unpaid
• living or working in a care home for older people
• a frontline health and social care worker
• those working closely with people at high risk from COVID-19, particularly those providing personal or close contact care (these can be people employed independently, by a council, NHS,  third sector, independent sector or private organisation, in a school or care setting if there is direct, close or personal contact with children or adults at high risk.)

Definition of people at higher risk from Covid 19

Please note that who is considered at higher risk from Covid 19 has changed since the start of pandemic, as knowledge about the risk the virus poses has increased:

People who are at the highest risk from Covid-19 infection

• People with severely suppressed or compromised immune systems – this includes people undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy or people who take high doses of medication to suppress their immune system.
• Anyone in this group aged over 5 in this group is advised to get a booster vaccination, as well as anyone over 5 in their household and anyone who provides close, personal care to them.
• A complete list of the highest risk conditions can be found here on pages 19-20: COVID-19 Green Book chapter 14a (publishing.service.gov.uk)

People who are in a broad clinical risk group

• This is people aged over 16 with long term conditions that could be exacerbated by Covid infection – note this is largely the same group of people who are prioritised for free flu jabs each year.
• This includes people with lung or breathing problems, people with heart, kidney, liver, spleen or neurological conditions, people with diabetes and other endocrine disorders, people whose immune systems are impacted by their long term condition or medication.
• This group also includes people who are morbidly obese with a BMI over 40, anyone over the age of 16 staying in a long stay nursing or residential care home, anyone with a severe mental illness, and people at any stage of their pregnancy. Anyone in this group aged over 16 is advised to get a booster vaccination, as well as anyone who is their prime carer or eligible for a carer’s allowance to support them.
• A complete list of the broad clinical risk group can be found here on page 17: COVID-19 Green Book chapter 14a (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Definition of personal care

This includes but is not limited to the support offered to individuals including:

• support with preparing and eating meals
• personal hygiene, including oral hygiene
• toileting, changing of continence pads and cleaning of intimate areas
• bathing and dressing
• use of feminine hygiene products
• applying lotions and creams as required
• changing or maintaining a stoma or catheter bag, or other form of clinical intervention

Booking your appointment

Staff and volunteers who meet the criteria above can:

• Book their own appointment using the National Booking Service and selecting the ‘frontline health and social care’ option. Staff photo ID required when attending their appointment.
• Attend one of the drop in sessions at the Trinity Shopping Centre, Unit 3.02 Trinity Leeds, Albion Street, LS1 5AT (Albion Street entrance next to Boots on the Ground floor) The site is open every day from 9am – 4.30pm. (Please note this clinic closes between 1.15pm – 2pm for lunch)
• All walk in clinics in Leeds can be viewed here: Walk-in vaccination clinics – Leeds Health and Care Partnership (healthandcareleeds.org))

Primary course of vaccinations

Please note – for anyone who has not yet completed their initial vaccination course, it is still possible to book an appointment for whichever jab you need. You can book an appointment using the online National Booking Service or by calling 119. Calls are free of charge and lines are open 8am-8pm Monday – Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.