Communities urged to attend Covid booster jabs amid one in 10 no-shows

MEMBERS of the public are being urged to attend Covid booster vaccination appointments as figures reveal one in 10 were no-shows.

In the second week of October alone more than 3,750 slots were missed across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – more than 500 per day.

These had been arranged through the National Booking Service so the figure could actually be higher as it does not include missed appointment slots at GP practices, which record the data individually.

Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and clinical lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Covid vaccination programme, said: “If you are unable to attend your appointment, please cancel it so someone else has the chance to take up that slot.

“Anyone can be unwell from Covid but people with long-term health conditions, those working in health and social care and people aged 75 years and over are more at risk from serious illness and its important they have the opportunity to get vaccinated.”

He added: “We’ve had such a great response to the Covid vaccine programme so far and I can’t thank residents enough.

“Getting vaccinated is your best form of defence should you catch Covid and we know health services and communities are already seeing an increase in numbers locally.”

To change an appointment booked through the National Booking Service call 119.

Those with appointments via a pharmacy or GP practice should contact them directly.

Over 4.5-million jabs have been delivered across Hampshire and Isle of Wight since the operation’s launch in December 2020, the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.