Vaccinations start for over-80s

Residents aged 80 and over will start to receive COVID-19 vaccinations this week, with more to follow later in the month and in to next year.

Those most at risk will be offered the vaccine first, including the over-80s, care home workers and front line health and social care staff.

GP practices are working through their patient lists and will contact people when it's their turn to be vaccinated. 

Getting the vaccine to all those in the priority groups will take a number of months.  

Local residents should wait to be contacted by the NHS, when they will be invited to an appointment to receive the initial vaccination followed by a booster three weeks later. It takes a few weeks after getting the second dose for the person’s antibodies to reach their optimum level.

A vaccination centre is opening this week at Hertford Theatre and people are being asked to volunteer as stewards, observers, patient advocates and administrators.

The vaccine is safe and effective for the vast majority of people – it has been tested on thousands of people and assessed by experts. You can find out more about the vaccine and how it works by reading the information from Public Health England which is available on this website: www.enhertsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-information.