Covid-19 vaccination boosters
Social care workers can now book their Covid-19 vaccination boosters through the National Booking Service.
Below are some key messages and guidance relevant for social care staff about who is eligible, how they can book their booster, and what identification they will need to provide.
Booking boosters through the National Booking Service
Social care workers now have the option to book their Covid-19 booster vaccinations through the self-referral pathway in the National Booking Service.
Social care staff working in care homes for both older and younger adults are still able to access workplace-based vaccinations through PCN teams when they visit the care home, and we encourage staff to check if their employer has arrangements in place for them to access the booster through this process in the first instance.
The guidance below tells staff how they can access their booster vaccinations by booking through the National Booking service, or at walk-in sites if this is more convenient for them. The information includes what identification they will need to provide.
Booster vaccinations can be administered no earlier than 6 months after completion of the primary vaccine course. Social care workers will be encouraged to complete the primary course of the COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t done so already.
Staff should be aware that visiting PCN teams, walk-in sites and the National Booking Service perform checks to verify vaccination history, to ensure a booster vaccine is due.
The vaccination programme offers access at hundreds of walk-in centres across the country without the need to book in advance using www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab to locate walk-in, mobile and pop-up sites. Health and social care workers can utilise these sites provided by Local Vaccination Services to complete the primary course of vaccinations and the booster vaccination if they prefer. Access to booster vaccinations at walk-in sites is subject to ID requirements set out below.
Guidance on the self-declaration route for frontline health and social care workers to book their Phase 3 Booster Covid-19 Vaccination via the National Booking Service (NBS)
The COVID-19 vaccination national booking service is now open for frontline health and social care staff to book a booster vaccine appointment through self-referral.
HSCW staff will be able to book their appointment online here or by ringing 119. As part of the booking process, they will need to self-declare they are a frontline health or social care worker. When booking, they will be advised on the evidence they will need to provide at the vaccination site as of proof of employment. HSCW will only be vaccinated if official proof is presented. Whilst this guidance is aimed at NBS bookings, the ID requirements also apply to individuals who are vaccinated via local booking services or a walk-in clinics.
The NBS is also open to all adults wanting to book first and second dose vaccinations to complete the primary course of COVID vaccinations.
Check-in and ID requirements for frontline Health and Social Care Workers (HSCW) arriving for their booster appointment at a CP, or VC vaccination site, or walk in clinic
HSCW should verbally declare at check-in at the vaccination site that:
they are a frontline health or social care worker, as identified by the Green Book and the SCW SOP, and outlined in the eligibility overview Table 1,
the type of role/work they do; and
the name of their employer.
They are asked to provide as proof of employment as a HSCW using one of the following:
A workplace photo ID,
A recent letter from their employer (last 3 months), or
A recent payslip which shows their employer (last 3 months).
The recipient should be informed that their employment as HSCW will be recorded in the point of care (PoC) system together with their vaccination.
Who is an eligible frontline social care worker in England?
Frontline social care workers
This means you currently work in a care home for older or working age adults, or you provide face-to-face care or support to individuals at higher risk from COVID-19 (adults or children who are clinically extremely vulnerable
or those over the age of 16 who are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19).
For example:
you are employed to provide personal care or work in any support roles (cook, housekeeping, cleaning, maintenance) including as a volunteer, in a residential care home;
you are a registered professional in social care (such as a social worker, therapist or nurse);
you work providing care for people in their homes or in community services such as home care, supported living, shared lives, extra care and day care services, or you are employed as a personal assistant.
Please speak to your employer, if you’re not sure. If you are a Personal Assistant and you need help or a proof of employment letter you can speak to your Local Authority point of contact who can help you.
Health and social care workers aged 16 - 17 ¾ years and booster vaccinations
As outlined in the Green Book and protocol for the administration of Pfizer vaccine health and social care workers aged 16 -17 should receive the two dose primary course of the Pfizer vaccine. Frontline health and social care workers aged 16 and over who have direct contact with patients, clients or service users are eligible to receive a third dose booster vaccination as HSCW.
TABLE 1 - The following community based social care workers are included as eligible:
The following, however, are currently not eligible
Social care workers working with children who are not at high risk from COVID-19, for example in early years education as a childminder or nursery nurse or with vulnerable children (SEND or Looked After Children) who are not clinically vulnerable to COVID-19.
Administrative staff who do not have any direct contact with clients and who work in settings other than care homes.
People who are unpaid carers and those providing home help, such as shopping or cleaning.
Vaccination in pregnancy
Vaccination remains the best way to protect against the known risks of Covid-19 in pregnancy for both mother and baby, including admission to intensive care and premature birth.
Research shows pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 and 98 per cent of those in hospital due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Published data from mid-July show no pregnant woman who has had two doses of the vaccine was hospitalised from COVID-19 in the UK.
Pregnant women are also more likely to have severe COVID-19 infection if they are overweight or obese. The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) recommend vaccination as one of the best defences against severe infection. The JCVI recommends Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as the preferred vaccines for pregnant women coming for their first dose.
Advice for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding is here. If you are 40 or over, and are booking your COVID-19 vaccination on NBS
you’ll be asked if you are pregnant. This is to make sure people who are pregnant are only shown appointments for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.Here is a video from Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
If members have any questions, please contact George at gappleton@careengland.org.uk