• Covid-19 Vaccination Flyer Final – Bi-Lingual
• Covid-19 Vaccination Poster Final – Bi-Lingual A3

 

Are you protected?

Winter is on its way and, with the increase in social mixing and relaxation of restrictions, an increase in respiratory illnesses such as Covid and flu is expected.

All those eligible for a free flu vaccination, including those aged 50 and over, will be invited for vaccination by their GP surgery.

And the door remains open for those aged 16+ who would like the Covid vaccine.

Trials and real-world data have shown that after two doses the current vaccines offer very good protection against Covid overall. They are particularly good at preventing the most serious illness, which could lead to admission to hospital or death.

If you live in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area (Swansea and Neath Port Talbot) you can still book your first or second dose appointment (remember your second dose must be at least eight weeks after your first) by contacting us between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday through any of the following ways:

• 01639 862323 or 01792 200492
•  sbu.covidbookingteam@wales.nhs.uk

Before your appointment, please tell us if you have any additional needs, such as a disability, mobility issue, anxiety, language, or communication requirements, or would like to speak to someone about the vaccination and any concerns or hesitancy you may have.

We will do our best to help you on the day of your appointment to reduce any levels of concern you may have about attending.

 

Getting to the Bay Mass Vaccination Centre?

Did you know there are free shuttle bus services that run seven days a week to the Bay Field Hospital Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC) off Fabian Way, and is open to anyone who has a booked appointment:

 

• ? Swansea Service (9a), running 7.25am to 8pm: Every 20 minutes from Bay D at Swansea City Bus Station – return services will leave the MVC every 20 minutes (last bus at 8.05pm)

 

• ? Neath Service (BFH1), running 7am to 7pm: On the hour from Bay 4 at the Bus Station next to Victoria Gardens – return services will leave the MVC at half past the hour (last bus at 7.30pm)

 

• ? Port Talbot Service (BFH2), running 7am to 7pm: On the hour from Bay 7, stopping at Bay 5 of the Interchange at the Parkway Railway Station – return services will leave the MVC at half past the hour (last bus at 7.30pm)

 

All services stop outside the MVC, with just a short walk across a flat car park to the front door.

Archived information:

 

As well as age, other risk factors have been identified that place individuals at risk of serious disease or death from COVID-19. These include groups with certain underlying health conditions and may include people who have:

• Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease
• Chronic heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease
• Diabetes
• A weakened immune system due to disease or treatment
• Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
• Morbid obesity (defined as BMI of 40 and above)
• Severe mental illness

There are two ways an individual may be identified as clinically extremely vulnerable:

1. They have one or more of the conditions listed on the GOV.UK website, or
2. A hospital clinician or GP has added them to the shielded patients list because, based on their clinical judgement, they consider them to be at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19

Castle Surgery will identify those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and contact you when vaccines are available.

Clinical Risk Groups in detail:

• Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease
  • Individuals with a severe lung condition, including those with asthma thatrequires continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous

    exacerbations requiring hospital admission, and chronic obstructive

    pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema;

    bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and

    bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

• Chronic heart disease
  • Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronicheart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for

    ischaemic heart disease. This includes individuals with atrial fibrillation,

    peripheral vascular disease or a history of venous thromboembolism.

• Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephroticsyndrome, kidney transplantation
• Chronic liver disease
  • Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis
• Chronic neurological disease
  • Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratoryfunction may be compromised due to neurological disease (e.g. polio

    syndrome sufferers). This includes individuals with cerebral palsy, severe or

    profound learning disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, multiple sclerosis,

    epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and related

    or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the

    nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.

• Diabetes
  • Any diabetes mellitus, including diet controlled
• A weakened immune system due to disease or treatment
  • Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patientsundergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients

    undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone

    marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages,

    multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g.

    IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).

    Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating

    biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab,

    ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or

    PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as

    cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.

    Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for

    more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more

    per day (any age).

    Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia,

    lymphoma, and myeloma and those with systemic lupus erythematosus

    and rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis who may require long term

    immunosuppressive treatments.

    Some immunosuppressed patients may have a suboptimal immunological

    response to the vaccine

• Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
  • This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such ashomozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome.
• Morbid obesity (defined as BMI of 40 and above)
• Severe mental illness
  • Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness thatcauses severe functional impairment
• Adult Carers:
  • Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the maincarer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the

    carer falls ill.

Ensuring you get accurate information 

We will do our best to provide you with accurate information to help you make an informed decision about your care.

Getting Consent

Before we can give you or your loved one the covid-19 vaccine, we will need to obtain voluntary, informed consent.

If it is not possible to obtain informed consent due to not having the capacity, a best interest decision can be made. This is not the same as consenting on behalf of another adult so a GP cannot consent on behalf of their patient, a husband or wife cannot consent on behalf of their spouse and a family member cannot consent to a relative’s treatment if they lack capacity.

The offer of vaccination should be discussed with those close to the patient such as their carer, relatives or anyone appointed as a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Health and Welfare, or those named by the person to be consulted on vaccination if practical. Note Cover Letter

Explanation of the vaccine’s risk and benefits will be shared in the form of a leaflet. You can download this here.

Receiving the vaccine

Your clinician will have undertaken additional training, statuatory and mandatory training, vaccine specific training and competency assessment.

 

What is the ‘Oxford Vaccine’?

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is a non-replicating viral vector vaccine. It uses part of a weakened adenovirus to deliver information about SARS-CoV-2 virus into cells. This stimulates the body to produce antigen. The presence of antigen stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and activate T-cells.

How effective is the ‘Oxford Vaccine?’

In clinical trials of over 11,000 patients, overall vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease was 70.4%.

Is the ‘Oxford Vaccine’ Safe?

The side-effects seen in clinical trial recipients following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca were mild to moderate and usually self-resolving within a few days of vaccination.

Can I have the ‘Oxford Vaccine’?

At the moment, the vaccines are in short supply, therefore the government have advised prioritising those older adults in a care home setting first.

Can I choose a different vaccine?

Currently, we cannot yet offer alternative COVID-19 vaccines. You can decline when offered and choose to wait, should an alternative manufacturer become available.

Who shouldn’t have the vaccine?

If you’ve had a previous severe reaction to a previous dose of the same vaccine or any severe reactions to any components of the vaccine (see list next page).

You are advised to delay vaccination if you have had any recent acute infections

Individuals currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 disease should not attend for vaccination until they have recovered. This is to avoid wrongly attributing any new symptom or the progression of symptoms to the vaccine.

Vaccination should ideally be deferred until around 4 weeks after onset of symptoms, or from the first positive test in those who are asymptomatic.

Can I have the vaccine if I’m pregnant?

There is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

If a woman finds out she is pregnant after she has started a course of COVID-19 vaccine, she should complete her pregnancy before finishing the recommended schedule. Women should be offered vaccine as soon as possible after pregnancy.

JCVI has advised that, for women who are offered COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination in pregnancy should be considered where the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection is high and cannot be avoided, or where the woman has underlying conditions that put them at very high risk of serious complications of COVID-19. In these circumstances, clinicians should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with the woman, who should be told about the absence of safety data for the vaccine in pregnancy.

What is the guidance on the ‘Oxford Vaccine’ if breastfeeding?

There is no known risk associated with giving non-live vaccines whilst breastfeeding. JCVI advises that breastfeeding women may be offered vaccination with the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

What does the vaccine contain?

The COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca contains recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS CoV 2 Spike (S) glycoprotein.

It also contains:

• L-Histidine
• L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate
• Magnesium chloride hexahydrate
• Polysorbate 80
• Ethanol
• Sucrose
• Sodium chloride
• Disodium edetate dihydrate
• Water for injections

When will the second part of the vaccine be given?

There should be a minimum interval of 28 days between doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

It is recommended that the second dose should be administered between 4 and 12 weeks after the first dose.

If an interval longer than the recommended interval is left between doses, the second dose should still be given (preferably using the same vaccine as was given for the first dose if possible). The course does not need to be restarted.

If the second dose is given less than 21 days after the first, it should be discounted and another dose (a third dose) should be given at least 28 days after the dose given too early.

 

Related Links:

Astra Zeneca Fact Check