More than 20,000 residents in Hampshire get second Covid booster jab and urge others to get vaccinated, saying it 'could save your life'
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Since the spring booster programme was launched on March 21, a total of 24,000 people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have already had their fourth coronavirus jab – with between 2,000 and 3,000 administered in the area every day.
Those eligible for the new boosters include people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those with weakened immune systems – of which there are around 300,000 people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
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Hide AdIt comes as Covid cases nationwide have risen sharply since the end of all restrictions, including self-isolation, on February 24.
Portsmouth recorded 250 new Covid cases on March 25 (the most recent date available for figures), compared to 76 cases on February 24.
In Gosport between those dates the difference was 37 to 115 and in Fareham it grew from 49 to 172. Havant saw cases rise from 55 to 170 in that time.
Eager to protect themselves and others around them, dozens attended a pop-up vaccine event provided by Solent NHS Trust within the first half an hour of it opening at Cosham Fire Station yesterday.
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Hide AdAlthough the clinic was providing first, second, third and fourth doses of Pfizer, the majority were there for their second booster.
Among them was 77-year-old John Lovatt from Drayton.
He believed getting jabbed was ‘so important.’
‘I have been lucky and not had Covid yet but I know if I were to get it I know I probably won’t be seriously ill because I’ve had the jabs.
‘The medical staff know what they are talking about and they know what they are doing.
‘I’d urge everybody to get their jabs – whether their first or boosters. I think the youngsters who presume they are fit and healthy and do not get vaccinated – only to end up in intensive care – have been foolish.
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Hide Ad‘Not only are they putting themselves at risk but they’re wasting NHS resources.’
Jane Phillips agreed.
The 75-year-old, who had Covid last year, had travelled from Barnham in West Sussex to get her fourth jab in Cosham as soon as possible.
‘I think we have got to be safe,’ she said.
‘There’s so much Covid about. Everybody I know has either had Covid or has it now – it’s never been as bad as it is now because things have opened up again.
‘People are allowed to just go to work with Covid, which I think is ridiculous.
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Hide Ad‘I definitely think I would have been more vulnerable last time without being vaccinated.
‘I had a really bad cough that lasted about five weeks or maybe longer.
‘I have heart problems and asthma. As far as I’m concerned the vaccine could help save your life. My son is an anti-vaxxer and I think he is mad.’
Cosham resident Josephine Wylie, 82, also attended for her fourth jab.
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Hide AdShe said: ‘I just want to be extra sure I’m as safe from Covid as I can be.
‘I know the vaccine doesn’t stop you getting it but it stops it being so bad and potentially dying.
‘I would definitely urge others to come forward and get theirs.’
Husband and wife duo Robert and Audrey Massey, from Paulsgrove went to get their second booster together.
‘I had the last booster some time ago,’ Robert, 89, said.
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Hide Ad‘Our daughter told us we had to come and get another one to stay safe.’
Audrey, 84, added: ‘I would encourage others to get their jabs.’
As of March 30, 162,701 people in Portsmouth – or 80.2 per cent of those eligible – had at least one Covid jab. 75.3 per cent have had two and 57.8 per cent have had a booster.
In Gosport, 64,941 people – or 88.6 per cent – had one, while 84.2 had two and 69.9 per cent had a booster.
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Hide AdIn Havant, 99,946 people – or 88.9 per cent – had one, 85 per cent had two and 71.1 per cent had a booster.
And in Fareham, 96,191 people – or 91.5 per cent – had one, 88.4 per cent had two and 76.1 per cent had a booster.
Clinical matron for Solent NHS Trust, Megan Sankey, said the new booster clinics had proved to be busy.
‘We have seen the demand increase since we started our spring boosters,’ she said.
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Hide Ad‘We are still running appointments from our St James’ Hospital hub but by running these clinics we make it easier for them to attend.
‘It’s so important for people to get vaccinated especially as all restrictions have been dropped – I would say now is the most important time to get vaccinated.
‘We’re still offering first and second jabs for people who haven’t had those yet so we would encourage people who haven’t had those to attend a session soon.
‘The jabs are there to protect people and reduce the risk of them spreading Covid to others.’
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Hide AdHamble House at the St James’ Hospital site in Portsmouth is offering booked vaccine appointments, from 8am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday this weekend (April 2 and 3).
It is also open 8am to 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday next week. These can be booked via the NHS website.
Spring boosters are only available to those eligible, at least six months after their last booster.
Covid-19 statistics over the past month
Daily Covid cases
Portsmouth
February 24 – 76
March 24 – 315
Gosport
February 24 – 37
March 24 – 146
Havant
February 24 – 55
March 24 – 168
Fareham
February 24 – 49
March 24 – 216
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Covid patients
February 24 – 113
March 24 – 201
Total number of vaccines
Portsmouth
First dose:162,701
Second dose: 152,757
Booster: 117,295
Gosport
First dose: 64,941
Second dose: 61,729
Booster: 51,269
Havant
First dose: 99,946
Second dose: 95,597
Booster: 79,897
Fareham
First dose: 96,191
Second dose: 92,974
Booster: 79,996
Upcoming walk-in sessions for first, second and booster jabs
Friday, April 1
Leigh Park Community Centre, Dunsbury Way, Havant PO9 5BG, 3pm – 8pm.
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Hide AdSaturday, April 2Winton House (Petersfield Saturday Market), 8 High Street, Petersfield GU32 3JL, 9.30am – 2pm.
Sunday, April 3
Fareham Fire Station, Station Approach, Fareham PO16 0HZ, 12pm – 4pm.
Monday, April 4
The Chantry Centre, Chantry Street, Andover Hampshire SP10 1RL, 8.30am – 12pm and 1:30pm – 5pm.
Tuesday, April 5
Alderman Lacey Library, 98 Tangier Road, Portsmouth PO3 6HU, 2pm – 6pm.
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Hide AdThe Chantry Centre, Chantry Street, Andover Hampshire SP10 1RL, 8.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 5pm.
Wednesday, April 6North End Library, Gladys Ave, Portsmouth PO2 9AX, 1pm – 6pm.
Thursday, April 7
The Chantry Centre, Chantry Street, Andover Hampshire SP10 1RL, 8.30am – 12pm.
Fareham Library, Osborn Rd, Fareham PO16 7EN, 11.30am – 4.30pm.
Thursday, April 8
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Hide AdTesco Community Space, Solent Road, Havant PO9 1TR, 12pm – 6pm.
Friday, April 9
St Vincent College, Mill Lane, Gosport PO12 4QA, 9am – 2pm.
Tesco Community Space, Solent Road, Havant PO9 1TR, 12pm – 6pm.
Saturday, April 10
Tesco Community Space, Solent Road, Havant PO9 1TR, 12pm – 6pm.
Sunday, April 11
Tesco Community Space, Solent Road, Havant PO9 1TR, 10am – 4pm.
Saturday, April 16
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Hide AdCosham Fire Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS.
Tuesday, April 26
Winchester University, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, 11am – 6pm.
Friday, April 29
Cosham Fire Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS. Open 12pm – 6pm.
Thursday, May 12
Winchester University, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, 11am – 6pm.
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