Every adult in Oxford can now receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
On Friday 18 June, the NHS started to send around 1.5 million texts to people aged 18 -20 inviting them to book an appointment through the national booking service. Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS booking page to reserve an appointment.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab. New appointments are added regularly so if you don’t find one available locally, please try again the next day.
People aged 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with updated JCVI guidance.
This weekend, anyone over 18 who is yet to have their first dose of the vaccine will be able to attend a walk-in clinic in the city.
A further clinic will be held on Saturday 3 July. No appointment is necessary and no proof of identity is required.
When and where
On Saturday 26 June, a walk-in clinic will be open at the Leys Health Centre on Dunnock Way, between 2pm and 4.30pm.
A further clinic will take place at East Oxford Health Centre, in Cowley, on Sunday 27 June between 1.30pm and 5.30pm.
Next weekend, on Saturday 3 July, there will be further clinic at the Leys Health Centre between 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Who walk-in clinics are for
The walk-in clinics are for first vaccination dose only.
Already, around eight in 10 adults have had their first dose of the vaccine while more than half have had their second, meaning they have maximum protection from Covid-19.
The walk-in clinics are a final push towards the government’s aim of vaccinating every adult before the 19 July
In the seven days up to 18 June, Oxford saw one of the highest rises in cases in the county. 50 percent of those positive cases fell within the 18 – 29 age group.
While anyone yet to receive their first jab can attend, the clinics are an opportunity for younger people who have not yet booked an appointment to protect themselves and others against the virus.
Statement
“We have known for a long time that a flexible approach to rolling out the vaccine programme would be required as variants of concerns emerge, different age groups become more susceptible to the virus and as we learn to live with Covid. Walk-in clinics demonstrate, perfectly, this flexibility in action.
"The rise in cases among the 18 – 29 year old age group in Oxford is concerning. Whether you’re a permanent resident, or a student with a term time address in the city, if you are aged 18 or older and are yet to book your Covid jab, please do it today or attend one of the walk-in clinics .
"The COVID-19 vaccine is our best way out of the current pandemic and recovering our social freedoms. Uptake of the vaccine in younger age groups is vital to speeding up progress and protecting our community.
"I am certain that younger people in our city will take the responsible decision to be vaccinated and I thank them for that.
"I would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been working or volunteering on the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine programme in Oxford. It has been an incredible effort and is a testament to the dedicated work of colleagues and partners across the area.”
Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for a Safer, Healthier Oxford
Pop-up vaccination clinics at Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University were offered on 23 June and, in July, more will be held at large businesses which have a younger age workforce, together with mobile vaccination clinics using NHS Health on the Move vans.
“The Delta variant is being shown to be considerably more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha variant, and this is clear in Oxfordshire where we have seen an almost 50 per cent increase in new cases over the past week alone.
“It seems that this variant appears to have hit the younger age groups in Oxfordshire hardest, and unfortunately it is this age group which is also the least likely to have received their vaccines yet.
“Therefore, we are encouraging everybody over the age of 18 to book their jab as soon as they receive the text message alert. They may be invited to their GP practice or they can book an appointment through the national NHS booking service.
“If you struggle to book your vaccination locally first time, please keep trying. New slots will be released as soon as vaccine deliveries are confirmed.
“In the meantime, everybody should continue with twice-weekly lateral flow testing, stick to hands, face, space, ventilate where they can, and remember that socialising outdoors is far safer than indoors.
“It’s also important not to forget that you must have two doses of the vaccine to receive the full protection and that the first dose does not start offering notable protection until two weeks after the jab has been administered.”
Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health
It is now easier than ever to get a lateral flow test. Those residents who are not tested through their school or workplace can order a pack through the GOV.UK website or by calling 119. Alternatively, they can also be collected from test sites and pharmacies. One pack contains seven tests.
National guidance on the current status of roadmap rules can also be found on GOV.UK.
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