I have been contacted by a number of residents about the availability of the COVID-19 booster vaccine in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.
In West Sussex, the booster vaccine campaign is being delivered through local GP led vaccination sites, larger vaccination sites where appointments can be booked via the National Booking System or by calling 119, and walk-in vaccination sites.
Patients at the Arundel Surgery, Avisford Medical Group, Bersted Green Surgery, Bognor Medical Centre, Flansham Park Health Centre, Grove House Surgery, Maywood Health Care Centre, The Croft Surgery and West Meads Surgery who are eligible for the booster vaccine will be contacted by the Innovations in Primary Care (IPC) team to receive their booster at the Bognor Regis Health Centre. I am aware that some residents have been experiencing long wait times to speak to a member of the IPC team and I have been told by Sussex NHS Commissioners that the IPC are increasing the number of call handlers in order to reduce the time people have to wait.
If it has been longer than 6 months since your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you are a registered patient at one of the above GP practices and you have not yet been contacted by the Innovations in Primary Care team, you can contact the IPC by calling 0333 370 4111.
The Bognor Health Centre vaccination service is a local GP led vaccination service and therefore not currently listed on the National Booking System. That is why if residents are trying to book an appointment online through the National Booking System or by calling 119, the Bognor Health Centre will not appear as an option.
Some local residents have written to me asking why they cannot book their booster vaccine at the Bognor Health Centre. I have, therefore, written to Sussex NHS Commissioners to raise the issue of availability of booster vaccine appointments. Sussex NHS Commissioners have responded to me to say that the Bognor Health Centre service will be increasing capacity by a further 1,920 appointments per week from 1 December and the service will increase from four days a week to seven days a week. I am very pleased by the decision. Sussex NHS Commissioners are also working on adding the Bognor Health Centre site to the National Booking System so that all its appointments will be available on the website and via 119.
All these measures will enable more residents to find a booster vaccine appointment near them and I will continue to monitor the progress of the booster vaccination campaign in West Sussex and liaise with the Sussex NHS Commissioners.
You can find more information about the booster vaccine campaign on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website here.