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A walk-in Covid vaccine clinic will open this weekend for people yet to have their first dose as patients booked in for their second at a hospital are told they must rebook.
No appointments are required and anyone from Kent over 40 will be able to attend the session on Saturday at St Mary's Island Community Centre in Chatham.
Limited numbers of AstraZeneca doses are available for those aged 40+ – in line with scientific advice – yet to receive a jab as the NHS aims to increase uptake for those who have not yet had a jab.
People attending the clinic at the centre in Island West Way, St Mary’s Island, Chatham, ME4 3EP, must bring a form of identification confirming their date of birth.
It will run on Saturday, May 29 only between 10am and 3pm.
Anyone aged under between 32 and 39 must book by the NHS national booking system to find available times for the Pfizer jab or wait to be contacted by their GP practice.
Paula Wilkins, Chief Nurse at NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Uptake of the vaccine across Kent and Medway has been excellent but in some areas not as many people have come forward as we would like. This clinic gives people the chance to get their vaccine if they can’t travel to other sites.
“The Covid-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. All of the vaccines in use are safe and effective, so if anybody who is eligible hasn’t been vaccinated yet, please protect yourself, your friends and family and our communities against this devastating virus.”
Invitations to book for under 32s are expected to be released later this week, although this has not been confirmed by the government and NHS.
More than one million first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been delivered in Kent at GP surgeries, large vaccination centres, community pharmacies and hospitals.
The NHS has also announced today anyone who had their first AstraZeneca jab at Medway Maritime Hospital and were due to have second jabs there over the next two weekends must rebook their second dose appointment.
Patients with bookings on either May 28, 29 and 30 or June 4, 5 and 6 must rebook at the mass hub in Chatham's Pentagon Centre.
A statement from the Kent Community Health NHS Trust (KCHT), which is running the mass centres in Kent, said: "We apologise for any inconvenience, but we are no longer able to offer your second vaccination at Medway Maritime Hospital.
"Your COVID-19 second dose will now be given to you at The Pentagon Centre in Chatham. You will need to re-book your appointment as soon as possible.
"Please visit the national booking system and scroll down to the section manage my booking.
"You will need to cancel your current booking and select a new day and time to have your second vaccination at the Pentagon. Alternatively, you can call the national booking system on 119.
"Extra slots have been made available at Pentagon so you will be able to book easily. Please book as close to eight weeks from your first as possible."
Patients will receive a cancellation text or email for the old booking and a confirmation one for the new booking.
They must then make sure to bring the new booking reference and NHS number when attending the second vaccination.
Everyone attending a vaccination slot will receive a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before having the jab.
Previous plans to host a walk-in clinic at the Pentagon Centre last month were abandoned at the last minute when NHS England opened the jab to over 45s.
It led to many people arriving being turned away when slots were booked up by eligible patients the day before.
Access the national booking system at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119. The national booking system will only display appointments where the Pfizer vaccine is available to those under 40.
For more information on the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination in Kent and Medway click here.
For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.
