Updated 21.9.21

What will happen when I attend my Covid-19 Booster and flu appointment?

You will be asked to show your staff ID and confirm your name and NHS number. At RBH, the vaccination clinic is located in Zone D of Outpatients. Please enter the hospital via the Eye Unit entrance and follow the signs.

At Poole, the vaccination clinic is being held in Main Outpatients. Follow the signs when you reach the area.

Parking will be free to all who attend the Vaccination clinic.

If you need to cancel your appointment please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your appointment time can then be reallocated to another person.

Will the vaccines work with the new strains?

There is no evidence currently that the new strains will be resistant to the vaccines we have, so we are continuing to vaccinate people as normal. Scientists are looking now in detail at the characteristics of the virus in relation to the vaccines. Viruses, such as the winter flu virus, often branch into different strains but these small variations rarely render vaccines ineffective.

How will the two vaccinations be given?

The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that in hospital hubs the co-administration of Covid-19 booster vaccinations and flu vaccination can be delivered. You will receive one vaccination in each arm in your appointment. You will then be asked to sit for 15 minutes in a monitored space prior to leaving.

Should people who have already had Covid or are suffering from 'Long Covid' have the booster and flu vaccination?

Yes. The MHRA have looked at this and decided that getting vaccinated is just as important for those who have already had Covid-19 as it is for those who haven't, including those who have mild residual symptoms. Where people are suffering significant ongoing complications from Covid they should discuss whether or not to have a vaccine now with a clinician. It is very important that all staff who are able to, have the flu vaccine to protect them from flu this winter.

Why are healthcare workers amongst the first groups to receive the booster?

The JCVI have put patient-facing health and social care staff into a priority group because of their heightened risk of exposure to the virus.

The NHS is experienced in vaccinating hundreds of thousands of staff quickly and safely – we do it every year for the flu vaccine, this year you are able to receive both the flu and booster at the same time and all local NHS employers will be responsible for ensuring that 100% of eligible staff have the opportunity to take it up over the coming weeks and months.

How long does the vaccine take to become effective?

Full protection kicks in around a week or two after the booster and flu vaccine is given, which is why it's also important that when you do get invited, you act on that and get yourself booked in as soon as possible.

Why is it important to get your COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination?

If you're a frontline worker in the NHS, you are more likely to be exposed to flu and COVID-19 at work.

Getting your COVID-19 booster and Flu vaccination as soon as you can, should protect you and may help to protect your family and those you care for. The COVID-19 vaccine and Flu vaccine should help reduce the rates of serious illness and save lives and will therefore reduce pressure on the NHS and social care services.

Is it mandatory, and what happens if healthcare workers don't want the jab?

Mandatory vaccinations for Covid-19 and flu are the subject of an ongoing consultation by the Department of Health, which closes on 22 October 2021. For more information and to take part in the consultation, click here.

We are confident that the vast majority of our staff – as they do every year for the flu vaccine – will choose to protect themselves by getting the vaccine.

Is the vaccine vegan/vegetarian friendly?

There is no material of foetal or animal origin, including eggs, in the Pfizer Covid vacciantion. All ingredients are published in healthcare information on the MHRA's website.

For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19.

Will healthcare workers need to pay for the vaccine?

No, the COVID-19 vaccination is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and it is a free vaccination.

Can I have the Covid booster and Flu vaccination if I am pregnant?

Yes. JCVI has advised that women who are pregnant should be offered primary and reinforcing immunisation at the same time as non-pregnant women, based on their age and clinical risk group. There is extensive post-marketing experience of the use of the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in the USA with no safety signals so far.1 Over 60,000 women now report having been vaccinated whilst pregnant or when they might be pregnant in England. Because of wider experience with mRNA vaccines, these are currently the preferred vaccines to offer to pregnant women. Clinicians should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with the woman, who should be told about the limited evidence of safety for the vaccine in pregnancy.

How effective is the COVID-19 vaccine?

The MHRA have said this vaccine is highly effective, even with one dose, but to get full protection people need to come back for the second dose – this is really important.

Full protection kicks in around a week or two after that second dose, which is why it's also important that when you do get invited, you act on that and get yourself booked in as soon as possible.

Is the NHS confident the vaccine will be safe?

Yes. The NHS would not offer any COVID-19 vaccinations to the public until it is safe to do so. The MHRA, the official UK regulator authorising licensed use of medicines and vaccines by healthcare professionals, has said these vaccines are safe and highly effective, and we have full confidence in their expert judgement and processes.

As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process, and continued monitoring once it has been authorised and is being used in the wider population.

What is the evidence to show the vaccine is safe for BAME communities?

The Public Assessment Reports contain all the scientific information about the trials and information on trial participants.

For the Pfizer trial, participants included 9.6% black/African, 26.1% Hispanic/Latino and 3.4% Asian.

For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine 10.1% of trial recipients were Black and 3.5% Asian.

There is no evidence either of the vaccines will work differently in different ethnic groups.

I'm currently ill with COVID-19, can I get the vaccine?

People currently unwell and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not receive COVID-19 vaccine until they have recovered. You may have both vaccinations 28 days after a positive COVID-19 test.

Do people who have already had COVID-19 get vaccinated?

Yes, they should get vaccinated. There is no evidence of any safety concerns from vaccinating individuals with a past history of COVID-19 infection, or with detectable COVID-19 antibody so people who have had COVID-19 disease (whether confirmed or suspected) can still receive COVID-19 vaccine.

Are there any known or anticipated side effects?

These are important details which the MHRA always consider when assessing candidate vaccines for use.

For these vaccines, like lots of others, they have identified that some people might feel slightly unwell, but they report that no significant side effects have been observed in the tens of thousands of people involved in trials.

Very common side effects include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1-2 days after the vaccine
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu like symptoms
• Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for 2 to 3 days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.
• You can take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) and rest to help you feel better. Do not exceed the normal dose.

These symptoms normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, call NHS 111. If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination (show them the vaccination card) so that they can assess you properly.

You can also report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines online through the Yellow Card scheme or by downloading the Yellow Card app.

All patients will be provided with information on the vaccine they have received, how to look out for any side effects, and what to do if they do occur, including reporting them to the MHRA.

More information on possible side effects can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

I have had my flu vaccine, do I need the COVID-19 vaccine as well?

The flu vaccine does not protect you from COVID-19. As you are eligible for both vaccines you should have them both.

Will I still need to follow infection control and testing measures?

Yes. The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection, and the booster dose will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. No vaccine is completely effective and it will take a few weeks for your body to build up protection. So, you will still need to follow the guidance in your workplace, including wearing the correct personal protective equipment and taking part in any screening programmes.