In Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, we are offering the COVID-19 vaccine in order of those who are at most at risk from coronavirus. The order in which people are being invited for vaccination is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
When you become eligible, you will be contacted by text message (SMS), by letter or by your GP. However you are contacted, we encourage you to book your appointment as soon as possible and to ensure you attend your appointment so that vaccine supplies are not wasted.
We are now vaccinating people aged 40-49, people who will turn 40 before 1 July 2021, and those in the first 9 priority groups set out by the JCVI.
If you are 40-49 or a frontline health and social care staff member, please book by using the NHS online booking system, or by calling 119 free of charge between 7am and 11pm.
If you are in the eligible groups, below, please book your vaccination by contacting your GP:
- people aged 50 and over
- people at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
- people who live in care homes
- people with a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
- people with a learning disability
- people who are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus
- household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed
You may find it harder to book 1st vaccination appointments at the moment, while vaccine supplies are lower. If you are eligible but cannot get an appointment using the online booking system, please speak with your GP.
Safety of the AstraZeneca Vaccination
Recently, there have been reports of an extremely rare condition involving the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).
Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine given and is seen slightly more often in younger people. CVST can also occur naturally and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection.
As a precautionary measure, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), we are offering eligible people under 40 who have not yet had their first COVID-19 vaccination, an alternative vaccine to AstraZeneca. For people in older age groups, the JCVI has stated that the benefits of prompt vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks.
Anyone under 40 who has already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and did not have a CVST blood clot, should still have their second dose of AstraZeneca when invited in order to have increased and longer-lasting protection from COVID-19.
The risks from COVID-19 are much higher than the risks from the vaccine. For example, data shows that for every 100,000 40-49 year olds who contract COVID-19, 5.5 people will need Intensive Care treatment compared to 0.5 people who may experience harm from the AstraZeneca vaccine.
An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored.
This leaflet from Public Health England provides more information about the benefits and risks of the AZ COVID-19 vaccination.
What symptoms should I look out for after vaccination?
Although serious side effects following vaccination are extremely rare, if you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should contact 111 or your GP, urgently.
- a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse
- a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over or
- an unusual headache that may be accompanied by: blurred vision, nausea and vomiting; difficulty with your speech; weakness, drowsiness or seizures
- new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding
- shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain
Local Progress
In our area, we are making good progress with the vaccination programme and everyone in the first nine priority groups outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has now been offered a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Watch video: our local progress up to February 2021
- View the latest data on vaccinations published by the NHS.
- You can find answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccination programme on the Healthier Together website.
Local vaccination sites
In Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, we are taking a whole system approach to our Covid-19 vaccination programme. This means that our GPs, pharmacies, hospital hubs and mass vaccination centre are working together to offer eligible people a vaccination in the most appropriate setting possible.
You have to book an appointment in order to have a Covid-19 vaccination. Please do not visit a vaccination site unless you have been invited to attend.
GP vaccination sites
GP Practices have been working together in groups called Primary Care Networks to provide the vaccine. Local vaccination sites run by GPs are located at:
- Kingswood Health Centre, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire
- Riverbank Medical Centre, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
- The Greenway, Greenway Community Centre, Southmead, Bristol
- Pudding Pie Lane Surgery, Langford, North Somerset
- Healthwest, Clifton College Preparatory School Hall, Bristol
- Bridge View Medical Marksbury Road Branch, Bedminster, Bristol
- Horfield Health Centre, Horfield, Bristol
- Brockway Medical Centre, Nailsea, North Somerset
- West Walk Surgery, Yate, South Gloucestershire
- East Trees Health Centre, Fishponds, Bristol
- Christchurch Family Medical Centre, Downend, South Gloucestershire
- Shirehampton Group Practice, Shirehampton, Bristol
- Portishead Medical Centre, North Somerset
- Severnview Family Practice, Thornbury, Bristol
- Stockwood Medical Centre, Bristol
- Concord Medical Centre, Little Stoke, Bristol
- Fishponds Family Practice, Fishponds, Bristol
- Knowle West Healthy Living Centre, Bristol
- Lodgeside Surgery, Kingswood, Bristol
Ashton Gate Stadium NHS Vaccination Centre
Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol is our local super vaccination centre which is vaccinating people from 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week.
Pharmacies
We have 9 vaccination sites run by local pharmacies:
- Superdrug in Broadmead, Bristol
- Locking Pharmacy, Weston-super-Mare
- Bedminster Pharmacy (delivering vaccinations at Bedminster Methodist Church).
- Billings Pharmacy, Kingswood
- Ellacombe Pharmacy, Longwell Green (delivering vaccinations at Longwell Green Community Centre).
- Kellaway Pharmacy, Bristol
- Boots Pharmacy, The Mall Cribbs Causeway
- Boots Pharmacy, Imperial Retail Park, Hartcliffe
- Sea Cadets, Sunnyside Road North, Weston-Super-Mare
Please be patient and kind to our staff at all times. Do stay alert to the threat of the virus and follow Government guidance.
Mobile Vaccination Programme
As part of our Vaccination Programme, mobile outreach clinics are being carried out in the community in a variety of locations such as local community centres, mosques and temples.
If you have questions about a specific community clinic, please email bnssg.communications@nhs.net.