In Wolverhampton, people may be contacted by their GP to attend a local GP led Vaccination Service, who are also vaccinating patients in care homes and who are housebound, receive an invite letter in the post to have the vaccine at a Vaccination Centre, or receive the vaccine at a Hospital Hub after a hospital stay or when attending for other appointments.
From this week, people who are eligible and live near to one of the new vaccination centres may receive a letter from the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Service, telling them how they can book their appointment. If you receive the letter from the national service and can travel to the Vaccination Centre safely, we recommend that you book using the details the letter provides.
However, if you are unable or don’t want to go to a Vaccination Centre, you can choose to wait and get your vaccination at your local GP service when they invite you. If this is your preferred option, there is no need to do anything, just wait to be contacted by your GP, please don’t call your GP Practice.
When you do book an appointment, please make sure you attend on the date and time you are given. So that we can manage the flow of people through the vaccination services, and maintain safe distancing, it is really important that you do not try to enter early.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nurse, Black Country and West Birmingham CCGs said, “Across the Black Country and West Birmingham a great many people are working hard to rollout vaccinations, starting with those most at risk. Our progress to date has been incredible and I am delighted to say that all our GPs have vaccination services and that all our hospital trusts have hospital hub sites. In the coming weeks we will open more venues.
“We know lots of people will be eager to get protected but please do not try to book or go to any vaccination services before you receive a booking letter or a phone call. Once you have an appointment to receive your vaccine, please arrive on time, there is no need to arrive for your vaccine earlier than your appointment time as this may result in you and others waiting longer than necessary.”
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Thousands of people in Wolverhampton are still contracting Covid-19 every week, and the vaccine is the fastest way in which we are going to get out of this pandemic.
“So, as soon as you are contacted to have your jab, please make sure you get it – because the quicker people are protected, the quicker we can get back to normal.
"When you get your appointment, please make sure you attend on the date and time you are given. So that the NHS can manage the flow of people through the vaccination services, and maintain safe distancing, it is really important that you do not try to enter early.
"In the meantime, it's incredibly important that people continue to do everything they can to stop the spread of the virus. This means continuing to follow the Hands, Face, Space guidance and adhering to the new lockdown restrictions which are now in place.”
Latest figures show there were 848.4 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the 7 days to 15 January. That means 2,231 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that 7 day period – though the true number of new cases will likely be considerably higher.
Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, must immediately self isolate and book a PCR test by visiting GOV.UK or calling 119.
