Central Camden PCN COVID-19: Vaccination Programme

We are extremely proud that our Bloomsbury Surgery COVID-19 Vaccination hub was part of the first wave of sites vaccinating. We have come a long way since then and are vaccinating on  a weekly basis from our Bloomsbury Hub and from our satellite sites at The Living Centre and our Swiss Cottage Hub. 

If you are aged 18 years and over and haven't had your first COVID vaccine dose yet, please contact your registered GP practice to book an appointment. If you do not have an NHS number, you can register with this surgery on the link below.

Register at the practice

If you are a local resident and registered with a local GP we can offer a walk-in service for vaccinations at our Bloomsbury COVID-19 vaccination hub on Saturdays and Sundays from 3rd July - 8th August (inclusive) between 10am-5.30pm. This will be on a first come first served basis and dependent on vaccine stock on the day. Please note, we offer Pfizer vaccines only.

If you have had your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you will now be invited in for your second dose within 8 weeks. 
 

Can the vaccine give me COVID-19?
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. But it is possible that you could have caught COVID-19 from somewhere else. 

Can I have the vaccine if I am pregnant? 
The available data does not indicate any harm to pregnancy. JCVI has therefore advised that women who are pregnant should be offered vaccination at the same time as non-pregnant women, based on their age and clinical risk group. You can read more about it here.

Can I have the vaccine if I have had the flu vaccine?
Yes, but it is advised that you leave 7 days in between the two vaccines. 

Which vaccine is better?
Each vaccine has to go through huge amounts of testing and has to be approved by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it can be administered to patients. Any approved vaccine will be considered safe and effective, which is why patients do not get a choice when coming for their vaccine. 

Will the vaccine effect my fertility?
There is no evidence that shows the COVID-19 vaccine will effect your fertility. Please read this article if you are still worried. 

I've already had COVID-19 and tested positive for the antibodies, do I still need to have the vaccine?
It is still not clear if having previously been infected with COVID-19 will offer you long-term protection against it. So it is important that you do attend when invited for your COVID-19 vaccine. If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to wait at least 4 weeks since your symptoms stopped, or since you last had a negative test, until you can have your vaccine. 

I've received a letter about getting vaccinated, can I attend one of my GP sites?
Yes, you are able to contact your GP and book an appointment through them, if you would prefer to do this. You are also able to log onto the national booking service, there are over 2,000 vaccine sites in the country. Anyone who is unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

Which GP surgeries are included in Central Camden PCN?
Ampthill Practice, Bloomsbury Surgery, Brunswick Medical Centre, Camden Health Improvement Practice (CHIP), Kings Cross Surgery, Regents Park Practice, Ridgmount Practice, Somers Town Medical Centre and Swiss Cottage Surgery. 

Can I still catch and pass on COVID-19? 
As the vaccine is new, it is still not clear if you can transmit the virus once you have had the vaccine. As the vaccine roll out continues, we hope that there will be more information released around this. The best thing you can do after your vaccination, is to still follow government guidelines and keep yourself and others safe. 

I cannot book a COVID appointment through the National Booking Service (NBS) can I be invited at a Local Vaccination Hub? 
Yes, please contact your registered GP practice if you cannot book an appointment on the NBS.

What happens to the spare vaccines at the end of the day?
We have our own internal back up list of patients to contact that fit the JCVI cohorts if this happens. 

Last updated: 02/08/21

How do I access my vaccine passport?
More information can be found here.

I had my first COVID vaccination dose abroad, how do I get my second dose in UK? 
Please provide your registered GP practice with a copy of your vaccination card and include: your name, date of birth, the brand (e.g. Pfizer), batch number of the vaccine and arm given. Your registered GP practice will then add this to your medical record. Once this is recorded in your records, you will be invited by text for your second dose within 12 weeks. You should receive the same vaccine for your second dose; if the vaccine you received is not available in the UK, the most similar alternative will be offered. Please note: the UK has approved the following vaccines: Pfizer BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Moderna.

I completed my course of COVID vaccination doses abroad, am I eligible to get another vaccination in UK?
Further vaccination doses are not required at the present time. Please provide your registered GP practice with a copy of your vaccination card and include: your name, date of birth, the brand (e.g. Pfizer), batch number of the vaccine and arm given. Your registered GP practice will then add this to your medical record.

Is there anyone that can't get the vaccine?
You should not get the vaccine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine, or if you had a serious allergic reaction to your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Will the vaccine give me 100% protection from COVID-19?
The approved vaccines offer very high protection against COVID-19, but no vaccine provides 100% protection. As more people are vaccinated, the risks of the vaccine circulating and infecting people should decrease, and should then help prevent those who do not fully respond to the vaccine or are unable to have it due to allergic reactions. 

Does the vaccine contain animal products?
None of the approved vaccines have any ingredients taken from pigs, cows or any other animals.

Do I have to have my second dose done at the same place as the first?
Yes, when you have your first vaccine the order supply is instantly matched for your second dose. It is important that you don't go elsewhere for your doses as it helps prevent vaccine wastage. 

How was the vaccine developed so quickly?
Coronaviruses have been being studied for years by scientists and researchers, so it isn't something they have developed from scratch. It was also a worldwide effort to get the vaccine ready as soon as possible. 
Each vaccine has had three stages of clinical trials, and have been tested on thousands of people around the world. The trial phases were run at the same time, which sped up the overall time it took to produce the vaccine.
The process has been exactly the same as other vaccines, there has just been a lot more focus and funding pumped into getting a COVID-19 vaccine, which is why it became available quickly.

Should I have the COVID-19 vaccine if I am on medication?
The vaccine is safe for people taking different types of medication, however, you should tell the healthcare professional who will be administering the vaccine for you and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.