Get your Covid-19 jab as soon as you are eligible

People in Wolverhampton are being reminded to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as they become eligible for the life-saving jab.

Vaccinations are currently available to anyone aged 64 or over; anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable; frontline health and social care workers; people who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance and anyone who is the main carer of an elderly or disabled person, whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.

It will be rolled out to further priority groups in the coming weeks and the NHS will contact people as and when they become eligible for their jab. For details of the priority list, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health John Denley said: "The development of the Covid-19 vaccine has proved to be a real turning point in our fight against the virus.

“Vaccines save lives, and I am sure everyone will have been heartened by the data we are getting about the effectiveness of the Covid-19 jab – not only does it provide a high level of protection from the first dose, but it also appears to help prevent the recipient from passing the virus onto others.

"Nearly 18 million people have now had their first dose of the vaccine, with uptake remarkably high among most groups. And we're starting to see the impact it is having, with a big fall in the number of hospitalisations and deaths, particularly among more vulnerable older people.

"The vaccine is the fastest way we are going to get out of this pandemic and is a crucial part of the Government’s roadmap announced yesterday, so when you are invited to have your jab, I would strongly advise you to get it."

The City of Wolverhampton Council is supporting the NHS in encouraging people to get the vaccine, helping those who are currently eligible for their jab to book their appointment and contacting those who, for whatever reason, have not yet taken up their invitation.

John added: "Please remember that, even if you have had the vaccination, you must continue to follow Government restrictions and guidance. Keep your distance from others, wear a face covering, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly and get a PCR test if you have symptoms or a rapid test if you don't."

For more information about the vaccine, including the answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/vaccine.

People will need to registered with a GP surgery in England in order to receive the vaccine.

Anyone can register with a GP surgery and you don't need proof of address; to do so contact your chosen practice and ask to be included on their patient list. The surgery will usually ask you to fill in a form, or ask you for your NHS medical card so that your records can be transferred.

For more details about registering with a GP, please visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, must immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. Further details of the lockdown restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.