Frontline H&SC and Schools staff
The Scottish Government has arranged for a Covid-19 booster to be offered to all frontline Health and Social Care staff, as well as some of our Schools staff. The booster programme will run alongside the biggest ever flu vaccination programme.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is clear that both of these programmes are important for individual and public health, especially over winter 2021/22. So, wherever possible, eligible people will be offered Covid-19 and flu vaccines together.
Covid-19 booster vaccinations will be offered to the same staff groups who were prioritised in Winter and Spring 2020/21, and JCVI have advised that at least 24 weeks should have passed since receiving your second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, before a booster is administered.
Covid-19 booster eligibility criteria
The Covid-19 booster criteria for frontline social care staff is those directly involved in the care of their service users and others involved directly in delivering social care such that they and vulnerable patients/clients are at increased risk of exposure. This includes:
- homecare staff
- specified Third Sector carers and Direct Payment personal assistants involved in provision of care
- occupational therapy staff and staff providing equipment to vulnerable clients/service users
- frontline social work staff who have face to face contact in the course of their duties e.g. child, adult, mental health, learning disability, justice services and public protection
- homelessness team staff who have face to face contact in the course of their duties
- all staff working in residential care for children and young people (including admin/cleaning/catering or other support staff)
- all staff working in other supported housing settings (including admin/cleaning/catering or other support staff)
- additional needs assistants and teaching staff working in all enhanced provisions e.g. Leader Valley and associated provisions, Berwickshire High, Peebles High, Gala Academy, Hawick High and Jedburgh Grammar Campus. Please note this does not apply to all staff working with children and young people with additional support needs, just those working with those with the most complex healthcare needs
Staff eligible for a Covid-19 booster can also get their flu vaccination at the same time.
Covid-19 booster and flu vaccination process
Staff working in residential care home settings will be offered both vaccines in their workplace as part of the programme being delivered to care home residents.
All other staff who are eligible for the Covid-19 booster should follow the process below as outlined by NHS Borders:
- you can log into the NHS staff portal online
- if you have not previously received a unique username, you can sign up for one by using the 'recover username' option and completing the registration. To do this you must know your first date of vaccination. If you do not know this please call the NHS Borders booking hub on 01896 809250 to get this information before you begin the registration process
- you should bring your ID badge to your appointment as the vaccinators will be checking eligibility before administering the vaccinations
- the following clinics are available to book on the portal for the remainder of this week:
- Wednesday 22 September: Volunteer Hall, Galashiels; Eyemouth Community Centre
- Thursday 23 September: Volunteer Hall, Galashiels; Eyemouth Community Centre
- Friday 24 September: Hawick Town Hall
- Saturday 25 September: Borders Events Centre, Springwood Park, Kelso; Burgh Hall, Peebles
- Sunday 26 September: Borders Events Centre, Springwood Park, Kelso; Burgh Hall, Peebles
Flu vaccination process for other staff
Health and Social Care and Schools staff who are not eligible for a Covid-19 booster will be able to book their flu vaccination separately through the NHS programme in due course. This includes all nursery, primary and secondary school teachers and other pupil facing support staff. Details will be communicated when available.
More information
We will keep you updated as more information is provided.
If you have any queries in the meantime, please speak to your line manager.