Walk-in centres offer over-40s their second Astrazeneca Covid-19 jab after eight weeks in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
People aged 40 and over in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who had their first dose of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination eight weeks ago will be able to get their second at walk-in vaccination centres in the coming week.
No appointment will be needed at these three centres, which will operate from 9am-3pm at:
- The Grafton centre, Cambridge - from Tuesday June 22 to Sunday June 27
- Oak Tree Centre, Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN - from Tuesday June 22 to Sunday June 27
- Peterborough City Care Centre - from Thursday June 24 to Sunday June 27.
June 23 UPDATE: More than 30 walk-in centres have now been set up for June 24-27 - see the full list here.
Those attending are asked to bring identification and, if possible, their NHS number.
You will be eligible if you had the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at least eight weeks ago. For those going on Tuesday June 22, for example, that means they should have had their first jab on April 28 or earlier.
The three walk-in centres are operated by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
The government’s original plan was for the second doses of Covid-19 vaccines to be delivered 12 weeks after the first.
However, with the Delta variant of the virus spreading fast, efforts are being made to step up the number of fully vaccinated individuals.
The Delta variant, which originated in India, is thought by Public Health England (PHE) to be 65 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha, or Kent, variant in households.
Cambridgeshire witnessed a 55.9 per cent rise in cases week-on-week in the week to June 13, compared to the previous week.
PHE said: “The most recent data shows 99 per cent of sequenced and genotyped cases across the country are the Delta variant.”
The risk of being admitted to hospital with the Delta variant is about double that of the Alpha variant, which was responsible for driving the winter surge in cases.
A second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine provides stronger protection against both the Delta and Alpha variant.
Dr Susan Hopkins, strategic director for Covid-19 at PHE, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the government’s announcement last week that ‘Freedom Day’ - when remaining lockdown restrictions will end - would be put back from June 21 to July 19 bought valuable time to get second jabs into more arms.
“What I would like to see is that everyone over the age of 40 has had the opportunity to get double vaccinated,” she said.
“And as many people over the age of 30 have the opportunity to get two doses of vaccination as well.
“We know that two doses of vaccination really protects against hospital admission, about 94 per cent overall and 92 per cent for AstraZeneca and 96 per cent for Pfizer.
“Overall, as many people getting two doses of vaccination would be really good.”
She believed about 70 per cent of people should have had two doses before July 19.
In May, the government announced that those in cohorts one to nine, which covers all those aged 50 and over, plus care home residents and staff, could have their second Covid-19 jab after eight weeks, instead of 12.
Swift progress on vaccinations mean that there is now a drive to extend this further, as seen with the walk-in programme offered by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
Read more
Sign up for our weekly newsletter and stay up to date
