Please note - 12th May 2021:
Due to the recent change in guidance to no longer offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to under 40s, we have heard that some patients are being turned away from the 119 service if they are in this age category, even if they are in a priority group or are pregnant. This is because not enough vaccine hubs have stocks of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at present. Unfortunately, we have no power to do anything about this and no Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to offer. We as a Surgery are not being supplied with any more vaccines. If 119 advise you to call us if you are in this situation, please help our staff by not doing so, as we will be unable to help. Instead, we advise waiting a little while longer and checking back regularly on the national booking sites, as more appointments will become available as soon as stocks of alternative vaccines are rolled out to hubs. Many thanks.

The MHRA is carrying out a detailed review of reports of a very rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The problem can also happen in people who have not been vaccinated and it's not yet clear why it affects some people.

The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. For people aged 40 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh any risk of clotting problems.

For people under 40 without other health conditions, it's currently advised that it's preferable to have another COVID-19 vaccine instead of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Current guidance states that under 40s who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine should go ahead and have the second as planned when it is offered to them. You may be asked additional health screening questions when you attend for your vaccine.

Call 111 immediately if you get any of these symptoms starting from around 4 days to 4 weeks after being vaccinated:

• a severe headache that is not relieved with painkillers or is getting worse
• a headache that feels worse when you lie down or bend over
• a headache that's unusual for you and occurs with blurred vision, feeling or being sick, problems speaking, weakness, drowsiness or seizures (fits)
• a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin
• shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal (tummy) pain

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting on GOV.UK

For the latest on New Dover Road's vaccination programme progress, please visit our dedicated page

Published: Apr 8, 2021