Special provision for pregnant women at walk-in vaccination clinic

The clinic will take place on:

• Wednesday 24th November, 9am-4pm - Mill House Leisure Centre sports hall.

The clinic is open to anyone aged 16 or over, but pregnant women are being invited to come along between 10am and 2pm when a midwife will be on site to talk through any concerns that they might have and offer support. No appointment is needed.

First and second doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will be available. Those attending for a second dose of a vaccine are reminded that it must be at least eight weeks since they received the same first dose.Booster jabs will also be available, but those people who are eligible to receive a booster are reminded that it must be at least 182 days/6 months since they received their second dose of vaccine.

Craig Blundred, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “COVID-19 can be serious for pregnant women, so it is important that they have both doses of a vaccine to protect themselves and their unborn babies. It is important to note that thousands of pregnant women have been vaccinated safely in the UK and across the world."

"Full vaccination is the best way for everyone to protect themselves and those around them from COVID.

“The vast majority of cases we are currently seeing are in younger age groups who are now eligible for vaccination and the fact we are not seeing as many in older groups who have had the vaccine is testament to the success of the rollout.”

He added: ““As we approach the winter season, it’s also vital that eligible people across Hartlepool get their COVID booster jab to protect themselves, their loved ones and our NHS.

“If people don’t get their booster jab, they ultimately increase their risk of catching COVID-19 and having a more serious illness, which would also result in increased pressures on our NHS.”

For more information about the COVID vaccine and answers to some commonly asked questions go to www.hartlepool.gov.uk/vaccine-questions-answered

Who can get a COVID-19 booster jab?

Booster vaccine doses are available on the NHS for people most at risk from COVID-19 who have had a second dose of a vaccine at least six months ago.

This includes:

• People aged 50 and over (aged 40 and over from Monday November 22nd)
• People who live and work in care homes
• Frontline health and social care workers
• People aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
• People aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
• People aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

For more details about the booster vaccine visit www.nhs.uk and search for ‘booster vaccine’.