Sloan Medical Centre | Medical Centre Sheffield | GP Sheffield | Care Sheffield

Booster Vaccine update (dated 30/11/21)

Important Message: the Omicron Variant and COVID Vaccination Boosters

Omicron is variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and was first identified in Southern Africa. Although we don't know a lot about it yet there is evidence that it may be more easily transmitted between people.
To help reduce the risk of this, on 29 November 2021 the UK Government announced that it would extend vaccinations to offer:
• a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over;
• a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system;
• booster doses from 3 months after the previous dose - currently it's from 6 months after the previous dose;
• a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old.

Remember, you can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe this winter:
• Always wear a face covering when in enclosed spaces with other people - on public transport, in shops and other public places;
• Keep your distance from other people when out in public;
• Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds, particularly when you have been outside;
• If you have COVID-19 symptoms book a PCR test as soon as possible and self-isolate until you know the result;
• If you have returned from one of the following countries in the last 10 days you should take a PCR test: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola.

Please contact us if you fall in the above categories and we can book you your booster appointment at the medical centre or alternatively use the National Booking Service by calling 119.

Thank you
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine

A coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine dose helps improve the protection you have from your first 2 doses of the vaccine.

It helps give you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

Who can get a COVID-19 booster vaccine
Booster vaccine doses will be available on the NHS for people most at risk from COVID-19 who have had a 2nd dose of a vaccine at least 6 months ago.

This includes:

• people aged 50 and over
  
• people who live and work in care homes
  
• frontline health and social care workers
  
• people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
  
• people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
  
• people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
  

People who are pregnant and in 1 of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

We will be in touch if you are illegible and as soon as 6 months as elapsed
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Vaccine information videos in other languages
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Punjabi

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Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site

CLICK HERE

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Get your NHS COVID Pass letter

Use this service to get a letter showing your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status.

You can use this letter if you're travelling abroad, or going to an event, and need proof you've had your COVID-19 vaccination.

If you're going to an event, you'll need to wait 2 weeks after you've been fully vaccinated before you can use this letter.

START HERE

Other ways to get your NHS COVID Pass

You can get a digital version of your NHS COVID Pass by:
•downloading the NHS App
•using the online COVID Pass service

You need to have an NHS login for this.

Or you can call 119 to get a letter sent to you if you cannot get a letter online.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE MEDICAL CENTRE

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Covid-19 Announcement - What's happening at Sloan Medical Centre after 19 July 2021

Please be advised after the 19 July we will be continuing with our current Covid-19 procedures which are-

• All patients to wear face coverings on our premises unless an exemption card can be produced. Patients not wearing a face covering or not producing an exemption card will not be allowed entry

• Entry will only be permitted 10 minutes before your appointment, you will not be allowed entry any earlier

• While on the premises please continue to social distance and keep you face covering over your nose and mouth at all times

• All patients will be triaged at the front door as they have been over the last 18 months

The reason we are continuing with these cautionary procedures is due to an expected rise in infections rates in Sheffield from the 19 July and the introduction of foreign holiday travel etc.

We would like to apologise to all our patients, but we hope you understand we must guarantee the safety of all our patients and the staff that are continuing to see patients in the medical centre.

This policy will be reviewed towards the end of August.

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Coming out of lockdown
We would like to inform our patient population that from the 7 June 2021 we will start to provide more pre-bookable appointments for patients to book in advance and at a time that best suits you.

Our nursing team are already providing face to face appointments and are providing a full pre-pandemic service apart from Spirometry which will return as soon as guidelines allow.

Our doctors will also provide more face to face appointments for certain patient conditions from the 7 June.

The above is a gradual phased return for us getting back to providing normal services again while continuing with some of the systems that have worked well for some patients over the Pandemic such as, telephone and video appointments.

Sadly, we are unable to open the main entrance at the moment and will continue to allow entry after speaking to the receptionist over the intercom. This is to ensure we triage everyone before entry. Personal details will not be taken outside, you will be allowed entry before being asked for them.

We are monitoring the Indian variant and will take the appropriate steps in future to make sure we keep patients and staff safe at all times.

We hope this is the start to our Medical Centre transitioning from a lockdown situation to getting back to how things were pre-pandemic, or as close as possible.

Thank you
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You don't require a sicknote from us if you are isolating. You will need a isolation note which can be found HERE
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Vitamin D
If you have received a letter from the Government for the 4 free months supply of Vitamin D please click hereVIT-D

If you have not received a letter please buy them from your local Pharmacy do not request from your doctor

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GP Face Mask Exemption Letters

Patients do not need a letter from their doctor to exempt them from wearing a face mask.

You can download your own exemption card from the following website address
Face Mask Exemption Card

The full guidance can be found at here

Other information can be found here

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For the latest advice for Public Health England see below
Latest advice

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To reorder your medication, you can do this over the telephone at the moment

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The NHS 111 service are asking patients to use its online service if;
• You cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• Your condition gets worse
• Your symptoms do not get better after seven days
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The doctors and staff at Sloan Medical Centre in Sheffield are proud to offer the highest standard of care for all our patients.

We aim to treat all our patients equally and provide a high quality service that is sensitive to your needs. Our values are to get the basics right, to act with compassion and respect, to make a difference, to value and develop our team and value everyone's contribution, because everyone matters.