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The NHS is responsible for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and will be in touch with you when it’s your turn to be vaccinated.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus.
The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. It may take a few weeks for your body to build up protection from the vaccine. The vaccine has been shown to be effective and no safety concerns were seen in studies of more than 20,000 people.
The vaccine will be provided free to all UK residents. You will not be charged and can only get it through the NHS. Please do not agree to any vaccination where you will be charged. These are not genuine vaccinations and could cause harm.
The NHS will never ask for your bank details, or just turn up on your doorstep offering the vaccine. These are fraudulent activities.
Who is eligible for the vaccine?
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine those at highest risk of catching the infection and of suffering serious complications if they catch the infection. The priority groups that are being invited first can be found here.
They include:
- older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- care home residents and staff
- those with certain clinical conditions
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine/s the UK should use and provide advice on who should be offered the vaccination first.
When more vaccine becomes available, the vaccines will be offered to other people at risk as soon as possible.
This will require patience; this is the biggest vaccination programme that the NHS has ever undertaken. It will take months to get to everybody.
Details of the COVID-19 vaccination first phase priority groups are on the GOV.UK website.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Depending on which stage of the programme we are in, you will be contacted by your GP by letter or phone call who will either:
- book an appointment at the nearest GP centre
- prompt you to book an appointment at a hospital hub or local vaccination centre by calling a national number or using a weblink which they will give you at the time
You may also receive invitation inviting you to book an appointment at the regional vaccination centre in Stevenage. The choice is down to you and you don’t have to use this centre if, for example, it is too difficult to travel there. You will still be contacted by your GP and you won’t miss out.
Please don’t call your GP, they will contact you.
Your appointment
When it is time for your appointment, please don’t turn up early. We need to keep everyone safe by socially distancing in waiting areas, so they are limited to the numbers they can hold.
Please remember to take your booking number with you when attending a vaccination appointment. Those who arrive at the centres without their booking number will be turned away.
Transport
Local transport businesses and volunteers have offered to take those who have no access to a transport or someone to help them to the centres.
Dial-a-ride
Dial-a-ride operators have confirmed they will offer free transport to the local vaccination centres in their areas (but not to Stevenage as this would take their vehicles out of circulation for too long).
To book a Dial-a-ride for a vaccination appointment, please follow the instructions on our website.
Please note, the number of vehicles available are limited, so booking for transport will be based on a first come first served basis and at the discretion of the operators. Dial-a-rides don’t operate at weekends.
Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport
The Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport (LBVPT) provides transport for the elderly and vulnerable to and from local hospitals and vaccination centres.
The service is available to those who do not qualify for NHS non-emergency transport or are unable to go to hospital appointments by any other means.
LBVPT asks for a donation to cover the cost of providing the service.
Further information on using this service can be found on their website Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport (LBVPT or by sending an Email to lbvpt@outlook.com.
Telephone: 07873 497633 - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Journey Planning
Journey planning website for anyone wishing to travel to a vaccination appointment by public transport. - the journey planner is up to date with changes to routes and timetables.
Where possible, local public bus services that pass vaccination centres will be diverted to either enter the site or stop very close by where this facility does not currently exist.
Volunteering groups
We have a network of volunteer-led groups and local Good Neighbour Schemes with volunteer drivers who can assist vulnerable residents to attend their vaccination appointment if they don’t drive, or have family close-by, or a support bubble that can’t help them or they cannot afford a taxi. Find out more about good neighbour schemes in Bedfordshire.
Mutual Aid groups can also help but please note that the types of support available from each group may be slightly different. Visit the CVS website to find a list of groups in your area.
Good Neighbour Groups and Mutual Aid groups can also assist vulnerable residents with shopping, collecting medication and checking you are ok.
Uber
Uber has pledged to offer free taxi rides to or from all Covid vaccine hubs. The firm will cover up to £15 of passengers' trips to help the most vulnerable receive their covid jabs. Those wishing to use an Uber taxi will need to enter the correct promotion code for the mass-vaccination hub they are travelling to in the app, ahead of booking their journey. Trips must start or end at one of the seven vaccine centres, the nearest mass vaccination centre to Central Bedfordshire is Stevenage. Passengers heading to get their jab will be able to claim their free trip until February 28, 2021. Subject to availability. If you don’t currently have an Uber account, you can sign up to Uber here
More info uber.com/ukvaccines on how to claim one of the free tips
Local taxi operators are also available. See local directories for contact details and call taxi operator for prices.
Guidance when sharing a car
Car sharing is not permitted with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless your journey is undertaken for an exempt reason. An exempt reason includes getting to medical appointments and also getting your vaccination.
It is difficult to socially distance during car journeys. Where it is essential to car share, you can reduce the risk of transmission by:
- sharing the transport with the same people each time
- minimising the group size at any one time
- opening windows for ventilation
- travelling side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
- facing away from each other
- considering seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle
- cleaning your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch
- asking the driver and passengers to wear a face covering
Do not waste your journey - please remember to take your booking number with you when attending a vaccination appointment. Those who arrive at the centres without their booking number will be turned away.
Watch out for vaccine scams
Unfortunately some criminals are taking advantage of the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
The most important point to remember is that the vaccine is free of charge.
The NHS will never:
- ask you for your bank account or card details
- ask you for your PIN or banking password
- arrive unannounced to your home to administer the vaccine
- ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips
Find out more and how to report issues on the Action Fraud website.
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