Warrington’s vaccine centre experts answer your questions

The Covid-19 vaccine has delivered a lifeline to all of us, to bring some normality back into our lives this year, but it seems that not everyone is keen to receive it if offered.

That is why we have submitted your questions once more to Dr Dan Bunstone and Dr Laura Mount, who have returned to try and quash fears which are leading to vaccine hesitancy.

Q. Do I still have to wear a mask and socially distance after I’ve had my vaccine?

A. Yes, it is really important that we all follow all of the social distancing rules, even if you have had your vaccine.

Strict hand washing, social distancing and mask wearing is still required.

Q. I’m aged 65. Do I have to wait to be called up for my Covid-19 vaccination?

A. Anyone aged 65 to 69 who has not been vaccinated is now being urged to respond to their recent invite to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Please call 119 and book your appointment at one of our pharmacy sites or the mass site.

Q. I’ve had my first Pfizer jab, but when I have my second jab, does it have to be the same one or could it be the Oxford-AstraZeneca?

A. If you have had your first vaccination at one of the pharmacies, at the mass vaccination site in St Helens or at Warrington Hospital, you will already have your appointment for the second vaccination.

If you went to one of the GP sites, they will be in touch very soon with a date.

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines ready to be administered

You will have the same vaccine brand for your second dose as the first.

There are some studies underway to explore whether the brands can be interchanged, but there are no current plans for that to be standard practice.

Q. Why am I on the priority list for the standard flu jab due to having bad asthma, yet with a disease that attacks the respiratory system, I am not even considered at risk?

A. The Department of Health and Social Care has decided that people with unstable asthma will be vaccinated as part of Cohort six – the current cohort being offered vaccinations.

This is defined as those who are formally shielding, regularly take steroid tablets or have ever had an emergency hospital admission.

This is different to the guidance on the annual influenza vaccine, and the decision was taken because it is those with unstable asthma who are most at risk from Covid complications.

The most important factor is ensuring that asthma is well controlled. If you do not feel that your asthma is well controlled, please contact your medical practice via e-consult.

Q. I’m a care worker and am worried about my fertility if I have this vaccine. How safe is it?

A. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine affects fertility.

Other ‘non-live vaccines’ such as the flu vaccination have been used safely for many years and have been shown to have no effect on fertility.

A vaccination centre has been set up at the Village Hotel at Centre Park

Q. How soon before we see the results of those who have had their first Covid-19 jab, to see that it is resulting in fewer deaths?

A. We are already starting to see some very encouraging data from the UK and other parts of the world showing a reduction in hospitalisation and deaths in those who have had the vaccine.

Data collected by Public Health Scotland found that by the fourth week after the first dose, hospitalisations were reduced by 85 per cent.

Q. As a healthcare worker, I’m not in the at risk or vulnerable category, so why do I need to have the vaccine?

A. As a healthcare worker, you will no doubt come into contact with those who are at high risk of the complications of Covid on a regular basis.

Most healthcare workers are also exposed to a high number of people on a daily basis, and despite PPE, they cannot always socially distance.

Not all those who are infected can develop symptoms and can then pass the virus on to those around them.

Being a frontline worker, you are also providing a vital role, and having the vaccine will protect you, your family and those that you care for.

Q. What are the different ways that members of the public might be contacted to get their vaccination?

A. Local hospital services – You might be contacted to have the vaccine when you attend the hospital as an inpatient or at an outpatient appointment.

Vaccines are being administered at Warrington Hospital

GP practices, pharmacies and Warrington Hospital are all working closely with Warrington CCG to make sure that all eligible patients are vaccinated.

The hospital is the main vaccination site for our frontline and social care workers.

Local GP services – In Warrington, our practices are working together to contact and offer the vaccine to as many people as possible.

The main sites are the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Orford Jubilee Hub, but we can sometimes also use our own surgeries.

If you are invited to a different surgery than you usually go to, or at a venue, please be assured that we have set up the sites specially to deliver vaccines safely. It is only your GP practice who can arrange an appointment at their site.

Through your care home – Our GPs and their teams are also arranging to vaccinate care home residents directly in their homes. Practices will contact the care homes and agree the dates for the vaccinations.

A letter from the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Service to book online or by phone – Booking through this service will give you the option of having the vaccine at one of the two community pharmacies working here in Warrington or the mass vaccination site in St Helens.

You can choose to go to these or one of the GP sites depending on what suits you best.

The mass vaccination centre at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens (Image: Google Maps)

Q. I’m confused about the different sites in St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium

A. There are two sites in St Helens, both of which are at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

There is one run by the local GPs who are inviting their patients to be vaccinated in the same way that the practices in Warrington are.

There is also a mass vaccination site that is run by St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust.

If you book an appointment via the booking service, the mass site is one of the options.

Friends and Family registered with GPs in St Helens will more than likely go to the GP run site.