1 December 2021

We are currently vaccinating those who are aged 60 or over and those 16 years or over with underlying health conditions.

If you in one of these groups your appointment will have been scheduled, even if you have not received your letter yet. To check when your appointment is please call the national Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 or log on to the national online portal: https://www.nhsinform.scot/vaccinebooking

Those aged 40-49 and 50-59, unpaid adult carers and anyone aged 16 or over who are a household contact of an immunosuppressed person will not receive an appointment via blue envelope and therefore must book their Covid-19 booster and flu vaccinations through the online portal or by calling the national Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

The online portal has appointments available throughout December in several Borders towns. If you cannot see any available appointments in your town please check other towns, especially larger towns such as Hawick, Galashiels, Kelso, Eyemouth and Peebles. If you are struggling to book an appointment online call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013.

This week we are running school clinics offering second doses of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone aged 16 and 17, who received their first dose at least 12 weeks ago. We will also be continuing to offer first Pfizer vaccine doses to anyone aged 12-15 years using previously issued consent forms signed by a parent. If a young person has tested positive for Covid-19 at least 12 weeks needs to have passed before they can receive a vaccine dose.

Young people can also receive their first or (if eligible) second doses at one of the drop-in clinics.

Anyone over 18 who is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination/booster but who has tested positive for Covid-19 must wait 28 days after a positive test to get their vaccination/booster. Before a Covid-19 booster is given, at least 24 weeks* should have passed since receiving the second Covid-19 vaccine dose.

Individuals who are eligible for their flu vaccination should either have their appointment letters or be able to book through the online portal. If you are eligible and would like your flu vaccine earlier than your appointment date you can opt to get your free flu vaccination at one of our participating community pharmacies now. Vaccinations will be administered subject to availability. If the pharmacy team identify that you have an upcoming vaccination appointment they will discuss this with you and administer a flu vaccine based on clinical risk. 

In their latest advice, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have advised that all adults (aged 18 and over) should now receive a booster vaccination.

In line with this advice, we will be prioritising booster vaccinations for older adults and those in a Covid-19 at risk group. We will then look to offer a booster to the remainder of adults by descending age groups.

The JCVI have also advised that all 12 to 15 year olds should now be offered a second dose of vaccine at a minimum of 12 weeks after their first dose. However, this interval is subject to emerging epidemiological data and has the potential to be reduced to 8 weeks.

We are currently exploring how to implement this advice as quickly and as effectively as possible. If you are booking your booster appointment in the online booking portal, please still select a date not less than 24 weeks from your second dose. If you have an appointment already booked, you should still attend that appointment.

Further information:

* Boosters after a five month (22 week) wait from primary dose completion can be given:

    • in a care home setting to enable all residents to be vaccinated in the same session
    • where an otherwise eligible individual attends for another reason (for example to receive their flu vaccine)

People who are about to receive immunosuppressive treatment can receive their Booster after a period of four months (120 days). This is to avoid giving the Booster when the immune system is less able to respond.