IMPORTANT UPDATE: COVID-19 Health and Social Care Vaccinations – book your appointment now
26 January 2021
This message provides an important update about the COVID-19 vaccination programme. It is aimed at eligible social care workers who work in West Sussex.
Further to our recent updates you are now invited by our local NHS hospital hubs to encourage your eligible social care workers to book appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations directly at one of the Sussex hospital sites. Please use the direct links below to book an appointment.
It is important that all eligible health and social care staff can be vaccinated as quickly as possible. First dose vaccination appointments are available for all paid, employed (including agency) health and social care staff working in Sussex. At this stage it does not include volunteers.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommend that health and social care staff are among the first people to be offered the vaccine in order to prevent death and protect health and social care staff and systems.
Appointments are available at one of the following hospital hubs
Eastbourne https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/esht-eastbourne-covid-vaccine
Hastings https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/esht-conquest-covid-vaccine
Princess Royal https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/bsuh-prh-covidvaccine
Brighton - https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/bsuh-rsc-covidnineteenvaccine
St Richard’s - https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/wsht-srh-covidvaccine
Worthing - https://booking.zesty.co.uk/practices/wsht-wh-covidvaccine
Please note the vaccination programme is delivered by the NHS. West Sussex County Council is unable to respond to any questions about the vaccination programme or their booking arrangements. If you have queries please visit the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website which also includes a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section and regular briefings about vaccinating the health and social care workforce.
You must present photographic employee ID when attending along with confirmation of the appointment, which will be provided when you book.
If you do not have photographic employee ID, please bring alternative photo ID, for example, passport, photo-card driving licence, or a national ID card, together with a payslip AND a letter of authorisation from your organisation.
It is important eligible social care workers take with them a letter of authorisation from their organisation. We have provided example template letter below that you can adapt for any employed eligible social care workers. If you do not have access to a printer please download it onto your phone or other mobile device and take with you in case you need to show it to the vaccination centre.
You will also need to know your NHS number which is required for appointments. You can get this from a prescription, from any letter from your GP or hospital, from Online Services if you use this with your GP, or download and register with the NHS App.
The delivery of the vaccination is the responsibility of local NHS services. Any requirements to change appointments, once received, must be done directly with the NHS.
You must have a booked appointment as you will not be vaccinated without one.
In addition to getting your eligible social care workers their COVID-19 vaccination appointments, please also complete the survey we are carrying out with eligible social care providers who employ people, either directly or through agencies, who work in West Sussex.
It is very important that we understand who in the external care sector needs to access the COVID-19 vaccination programme. It will help ensure we can track and monitor who still needs to be contacted by the NHS. This will help ensure eligible social care workers who are most at risk of exposure to infection can receive the vaccination as quickly as possible.
By completing this survey, you are agreeing to us sharing this information directly with the NHS and Public Health.
To make sure all eligible social care staff workers working in West Sussex have had the opportunity to be vaccinated we will require you to continue to complete this short survey on a regular basis. This will ensure all eligible social care providers have been able to access the NHS vaccination programme.
If you have any queries about the survey itself, please contact us at: Providervaccinationsurvey@westsussex.gov.uk
Thank you for your support and time in completing the survey.
We will continue to update you on the vaccination programme.
THE LINKS IN THIS COMMUNICATION ARE ONLY FOR THOSE WORKING IN HEALTH OR SOCIAL CARE. THE NHS HOSPITALS HUBS WILL ONLY VACCINATE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE WORKERS.
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IMPORTANT: If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you will need to wait 28 days from when you had your positive result before receiving a vaccination. If you have had the flu vaccination you must wait 7 days before receiving your COVID-19 vaccination.
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EXAMPLE TEMPLATE LETTER OF AUTHORISATION:
To whom it may concern,
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE WORKER CLASSIFICATION
I write to you in my capacity as [INSERT JOB TITLE] for [INSERT ORGANISATION.]
I am writing to confirm that [STAFF NAME] is employed by [INSERT ORGANISATION] or is an agency worker engaged on behalf of [INSERT ORGANISATION] and is a health and social care worker within the guidance issued for the purposes of the vaccination prioritisation.
If you wish to clarify any of the information provided in this letter, please contact me and I will respond as quickly as I am able.
Yours sincerely
With thanks again,
Contracts and Performance Team
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