Sefton residents aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated or had their appointment for a first dose against COVID-19 are being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.

Until now the NHS has asked people to wait until they are contacted to help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected first - and importantly that remains the case for most people.

However, to ensure absolutely everyone is offered the vaccine people aged 70 and over, or who are clinically extremely vulnerable should now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated by the middle of this month. 

The easiest way to arrange a vaccination for anyone in these priority groups is through the national booking service, which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. The booking system allows patients to choose a time slot at a larger regional vaccination site or at a participating local community pharmacy.

Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week to book an appointment.

If a suitable and convenient slot is not available, people aged over 70 or who are on the Shielded Patient List should contact their GP practice.

Many who have not yet booked an appointment are already receiving follow up letters and phone calls this week to encourage them to take up the offer of a jab.

GP teams in Sefton will be continuing to contact their remaining clinically extremely vulnerable patients next week, including those who are housebound and who have been asked to shield to arrange appointments for their vaccination.

People in priority groups who are given a vaccination appointment by both their local GP team and the national booking service should cancel the one they do not want so the slot can be used by someone else.

To find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Sefton, visit our dedicated webpage.