COVID VACCINATION – Information for York Medical Group Patients

We are delighted to have been able our most at risk patients their first Covid vaccinations already.

YMG are asking patients NOT to contact the surgery with queries about their Covid vaccination.

Our phone lines are very busy as usual and the vaccine programme is running ‘alongside’ our normal workload.

We know that many of our patients are very keen to have their vaccination as soon as possible and that is understandable. Please be assured that you will be contacted when vaccine is available for you.

We hope that the FAQs and links below will answer your questions and address your concerns.

More information about the Covid vaccination programme can be found here:-

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

• Update on Covid Vaccine concerns around Pregnancy, Fertility, and Breastfeeding
  • Can I have the vaccine if I am pregnant? Yes. There is nothing to suggest you are at increased risk from having the vaccine to you or your baby, but you are at increased risk of ICU admission, premature delivery, and death (although this is only slightly increased) if you are infected with Covid when pregnant
  • Is there a specific trimester when I should have my vaccine? No. At present, the recommendation is to have your vaccine as soon as you are offered it. If you are low risk of Covid from other factors, then some women may choose to wait until after their first trimester and 12-week scan.
  • I am trying to get pregnant, does Covid vaccine affect fertility? No. There is no evidence or plausible mechanism to show that any of the vaccines affect fertility.
  • Does the vaccine effect chance of miscarriage? No. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine increases the chance of miscarriage.
  • Can I choose and request a Pfizer vaccine as I am trying to get pregnant and have a blood clot history? Blood clot history doesn't increase the risk of VITT, nor does pregnancy. If you are under 30, you will not be offered AZ as thrombotic risk in under 30s slightly higher. There is no reason why you can’t have any vaccine that is offered to you, but this should be discussed with the vaccinator.
  • I am breastfeeding, can I have the vaccine? Yes. There is no evidence that any of the components of the vaccine pass through breastmilk.
• Demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status when travelling abroad

  Gov. UK has released information about how to demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status to show that you’ve had the full course of the COVID-19 vaccine and access this status when travelling abroad. It will be available via the NHS App and they have messaged "Do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccination status."

  All the information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

• Astra Zeneca

  There has been lots of news about Astra Zeneca and the risk of blood clots recently.

  Public Health England have put together a lot of useful information that can be found on their website.

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-blood-clotting-information-for-healthcare-professionals/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-blood-clotting-following-covid-19-vaccination

   

  The BBC have put together a very good article which is available on their website

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56594189

  The key messages are:

  • As has been reported widely in the news there are some new worries about the Astra Zeneca vaccine 
  • The events that have occurred are VERY rare but action has been taken to minimise the risks to patients  
  • These issues have arisen only with the Astra Zeneca vaccine and there have been no reported cases with the Pfizer vaccine
  • What about first doses going forward ? 

  Those aged 18-29 JCVI and MHRA advise preferable to have an alternative to AZ vaccination  
  
  This may mean a delay in vaccination until Pfizer or Moderna are available  
  
  Patients can go ahead with AZ if they have considered risk and benefits

  Patients should complete the course with the same vaccine as their first dose  

  • Healthy patients aged 30-50

  Patients should receive any vaccine as benefits outweigh risks  

  Patients should complete the course with the same second vaccine as first  

  • Patients over 50 and those with underlying health conditions

  JCVI and MRHA advice is that patients should receive any vaccine as benefits outweigh risks 

  Second dose should be same vaccine as first  

  Second Dose confers higher and longer lasting protection 

  • Second doses
  • If patients have had their first dose of AZ and had no serious side effects then they should complete the course with AZ.  This includes health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunocompromised  
• When will I be called for my vaccination?

  YMG are working to national guidance issued by the JCVI. This government team have categorised the population into groups and you will be offered vaccination as soon as practical in line with this guidance. In York, we have been doing really well at ‘getting patients vaccinated’. All patients in priority groups 1-4 have been offered vaccination (those who live and work in care homes, those over 80, those over 70 and health and social care staff. The next group in the list will be invited as soon as possible.

• Why do I have to wait for my vaccination?

  The rate-limiting factor is the supply of the vaccine. At the start of the programme, the supplies were very limited but they have improved lots.  In time it is likely all adults will be offered vaccination.

  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951774/PHE_COVID-19_vaccination_guide_why_do_I_have_to_wait_English_v2.pdf

• Can I choose which vaccination I have?

  No – currently the vaccination centre has access to both the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccines. You will not get a choice of which one you get. There are very few patients who need one vaccine rather than the other, if you are in this group this can be discussed with a clinician when you attend your appointment.

• Where are Covid vaccinations in York being given?

  The Postcode is YO24 1LW for the vaccine site.

  YMG patients are being invited alongside patients registered with other York GP practices to be vaccinated at the local mass vaccination site. The site is being run by NimbusCare.

  YMG are one of a group of York practices that are members of Nimbus Care.

  Nimbuscare is running the York vaccination service on behalf of member practices. Many of our team are working to deliver or support the delivery of the vaccine so you may familiar faces when you go for your jab.

  This link takes you to the Nimbus care website and will help you know what to expect when you go and how to get there. What expect when you arrive video

  Feedback tells us that our patients so far have found the site to be very organised and well run.

  https://www.nimbuscare.co.uk/our-services/nhs-covid-vaccination-service/

• Should I get the jab if I have already had Covid?

  Yes –the MHRA advice is you that patients should be vaccinated even if they have had or may have had covid.

• Why can’t I have my Covid vaccination at my GP practice?

  There are transportation and storage restrictions on some of the vaccine. To carry out Covid vaccinations at our surgeries we would have to stop providing our normal services.

• Can I pay to get vaccinated sooner?

  No – it is extremely important that patients are vaccinated in order of clinical priority. The supply of vaccine is limited and so the vaccine is being offered to those groups who have been deemed at most risk first. Anyone offering vaccines outside of the NHS free vaccination programme is committing a criminal offence.

• I have heard about some vaccine related scams - should I be worried about this ?

  We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious letters/emails or calls/text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. To protect yourself and your family members from fraud and criminals, remember the following points:

  • The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to people in priority groups, and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn.
  • Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime.
  • The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or sent a text to confirm you want the vaccine, and never ask for payment or your bank details.

  If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft, you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, and particularly if you are worried that someone has or might come to your house, report it to the Police online or by calling 101.

  We are contacting patients by text in the first instance if appropriate, those we cannot invite by text we are contacting by phone or email. We have a guide you can read regarding our text invite so that you know that it has come from us Covid Vaccination invite text.

  Patients in York are being invited for their Covid vaccines by text message. Those patients in cohort 65-69 will begin to received text messages as shown below for Nimbuscare who are organizing the Mass Vaccinate Centre.

  They are currently trialling a new booking system and the image below shows the text you will receive and at the moment it will be addressed from Burnbrae Medical Practice.

  We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

  You will also not receive a Booking Reference once you have booked your appointment, if you have any issues once your appointment is booked you can email nimbuscare.help.desk@nhs.net for support

  
• Should I be vaccinated if I am considered clinically extremely vulnerable / was in the government’s shielding group ?

  Yes – vaccination is particularly important if you are in this group.

• When will unpaid Carers be vaccinated?

  Those who are in recipt of carers allowance or who care for someone elderly or disabled who would be vulnerable if their care bcame ill are in Group 6 as defined by JCVI. Many of this group will already be coded on our system as carers. We are setting up a system for people to register themselves as a carer if they are in this group.

• Should I attend my vaccination appointment if I am unwell?

  Like most vaccinations, the covid 19 vaccines can be given to those with minor illnesses unless they have a fever or are particularly unwell.  If you are self-isolating or waiting for a covid19 test result please do not attend for your vaccination. There is no need to contact YMG about this – you will be invited again once more vaccine is available.

• Should I attend my vaccination appointment if I have Covid?

  If you have had covid 19 the advice is to wait to be vaccinated for 4 weeks.