Under 50s urged to get boosted by local NHS

Having now given more than 459,000 covid booster vaccinations, the NHS in Lincolnshire continues to appeal to anyone who is not yet boosted or has not had their first and/or second doses, to come forwards urgently, particularly those under the age of 50.

Nationally 1.3 million people remain eligible for a booster vaccination but have not yet had it, with one million of them being under the age of 50.  In Lincolnshire, just over 100,000 people who are eligible for a booster are yet to have it, with 61,437 of these being under 50 years old.

“We know, both from our national colleagues and also anecdotally based on local knowledge, that age remains the biggest factor for those yet to be vaccinated, followed by deprivation,” explains Rebecca Neno, Director of Covid and Influenza Vaccination Programmes, NHS Lincolnshire CCG.

“Having already boosted a significant proportion of those eligible in Lincolnshire, we are naturally still doing everything we can to encourage anyone who is yet to come forwards to be vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.

“As we’ve said previously, we think a lot of people see the national media headlines talking about the Omicron variant being milder for some than what has gone before, however, this is only the case for people who have either been vaccinated or who have had covid previously.

“The stark reality is that nationally 61% of those in ICU have had no vaccination and of the remaining patients 90% have not had a booster.  Perhaps younger people – and I am thinking of anyone under 50 – think covid won’t get them or affect them badly, but that’s not guaranteed.”

Sadly the increases in people being hospitalised by covid, across the country and in Lincolnshire, is being driven mostly by unvaccinated, or at least not fully vaccinated, younger people.

“Getting boosted and having your first and/or second doses if you haven’t already, is the best way to give yourself maximum protection from covid, whether you are 25 or 75.  Being boosted is key, particularly against Omicron, and we know the booster dose is continuing to give high levels of protection against severe disease and hospitalisation,” comments Rebecca.

“It’s never too late to get vaccinated and our vaccination teams across the county are still here for you, so please come forwards now if you have not yet been boosted or haven’t had your first and/or second doses.

“You can book an appointment online via the National Booking System or by calling 119 for a vaccination site close to you, or you can have your vaccination on a walk-in basis/without an appointment at either of our two Mass Vaccination Centres at PRSA, Boston and at the Lincolnshire Showground,” adds Rebecca.