Barnstaple Vaccination Centre

Barnstaple Vaccination Centre

Autumn COVID-19 and flu booster programme launches Thursday 3 October

 

COVID-19 and flu spread more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors and vaccination is the best protection against these viruses. If you are vaccinated and catch flu or COVID-19 you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, reducing the risk of hospitalisation.

The winter vaccine programme focuses on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill and those eligible for vaccinations this year are:

COVID-19

  • Adults aged 65 years and over
  • Residents in a care home for older adults
  • Individuals aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk groups
  • Frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people

Flu

  • Children aged two and three years on 31 August 2024
  • Eligible school aged children (Reception to Year 11)
  • Individuals aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
  • Pregnant women
  • Adults aged 65 years and over
  • Those in long-stay residential care homes
  • Carers, those in receipt of carer’s allowance or main carer of an older or disabled person
  • Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • Frontline health and social care workers

The national booking system  for public clinics will open on Monday 23 September, for appointments from Thursday 3 October  to Friday 20 December. 

You will be invited for your booster, your GP may offer you the vaccine or you can book using the NHS app for Apple or Android. You can also find your nearest walk-in vaccination site from the NHS website.

 

Outreach Vaccination Clinics, and community hospital visits, in various locations around Devon will be advertised via the  online vaccination clinic calendar

Need to know before you go

  • Check your eligibility at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/who-can-get-the-vaccine
  • To receive your booster dose, it must have been at least 91 days since your previous dose
  • If you have not had a previous covid vaccination and you meet the above eligibility criteria, you will be able to access 1 dose in the autumn booster programme.
  • Please bring your NHS number with you if you can, this really helps our team
  • Queues are likely. Please bear this in mind and wear clothing that will keep you warm
  • Our vaccination staff and volunteers are working as quickly as possible – please be patient

Booking an appointment

  • If you are eligible for vaccination, you can book an appointment via the National Booking Service website. You can also use the website to manage or cancel your appointment.
  • Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. You can ask someone else to do this for you if you prefer.
  • If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use textphone 18001 119, call 119 BSL via the SignVideo app, or use the NHS BSL service at: signvideo.co.uk/nhs119.
  • If you have received your first vaccine dose but have not booked a second appointment,  please refer back to the online booking website at least 24 hours after your first appointment. From here, you will be able to book your second appointment.

Attending for vaccination

If you have recently had COVID-19, we may not be able to vaccinate you. If you have an appointment booked, please cancel or rearrange it through the National Booking Service website.

  • Aged 18 years and over – there must be a 28-day gap between first symptoms of COVID-19/date of positive PCR result if you had no symptoms and a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Under 18s – there must be a 12-week gap between first symptoms of COVID-19/date of positive PCR result if you had no symptoms and a COVID-19 vaccine.

Please do not attend your vaccination if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating.

Please ensure you wear a face mask unless you have a valid exemption certificate.

In preparation for getting your vaccination, please wear loose fitting clothing.

Queues are likely, please wear clothing that will keep you warm when outside.

We understand that it may be difficult for some people to queue for long periods of time, particularly more frail older people. Our volunteers are managing the queues – please speak to someone if you need help.

Remember to eat and drink before you attend.

We ask that you do not arrive more than five minutes before your appointment time to avoid queues.

Email our team at rduh.queriescovidvaccinationteam@nhs.net providing a phone number so they can call you

Translation and interpretation support

British Sign Language support is available – please speak to one of the vaccination team, who will assist you.

If you require a translator or interpreter for your COVID-19 vaccination appointment, please let us know at least five working days before your appointment.

Email rduh.pals-northern@nhs.net or call 01271 314090 with the following details:

  • The name of the appointment holder
  • Date and time of the appointment
  • Language required e.g. Polish, Bulgarian
  • Contact number

Key vaccination information

Getting here

The address and postcode is:

Tesco Taw View Extra
Barnstaple Retail Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 2AS

Bike facilities

Bike stands are available at the front entrance of Tesco Taw View Extra.

Car

You can plan your journey with Google Maps, or enter EX31 2AS into your sat nav.

Bus

The nearest bus stop to Tesco Taw View Extra is Barnstaple Railway Station.

North Devon Leisure Centre is roughly a 10-minute walk from Barnstaple Bus Station.
For help planning your journey by bus, please visit www.traveline.info or www.stagecoachbus.com.

Unable to drive, get a lift or use public transport?

If you are unable to get a lift or access public transport, or there are no suitable public transport services in your area, you may be able to find transport via the network of voluntary organisations which operate across Devon.

There is no guarantee that transport will be available through voluntary schemes. All schemes operate differently, and there may be a charge for these services.

Devon County Council has produced a summary of voluntary services serving each vaccination delivery location.

Facilities

  • Toilets
  • Bike stands
  • Refreshments (vending machines)

Vaccination clinic volunteer

The Barnstaple vaccination clinic can be found within the car park of Tesco in Severn Brethren Retail Park.  Volunteers help manage the car park, and patient queues and also support with background admin and welfare duties. Further opportunities may arise across other vaccination sites as these open during booster campaigns.

Vaccination clinic volunteer – Application form and pack (word doc)

For more information please contact: rduh.volunteer-northern@nhs.net

Contact details

If you have an enquiry about your vaccination with our team, please email rduh.queriescovidvaccinationteam@nhs.net

Last updated: September 19, 2024.