KEEP black LONDON 11 mm clearance SAFE all sides white 11 mm clearance HAVING THE COVID-19all sides CMYK VACCINE IS FREE 11 mm clearance AND EASY all sides • Don’t miss your first appointment • Stay safe after your first dose • Make sure you get your second dose Dr Sibusisiwe Nkiwane GP at Spring Hill Practice Key information on COVID-19 and the vaccination rollout Get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn KEY INFORMATION ON COVID-19 AND THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and has tragically taken many lives, touching every single person across all of our communities. There is now light at the end of the tunnel through the NHS vaccination programme, led by our amazing NHS staff and local volunteers, and which the Council is supporting here in the borough. The Council is also helping residents to book their vaccination appointments, and by providing all the information you need to get your vaccinations – through this booklet. There are still tough weeks ahead, so it is vitally important that we continue to work together, following the rules and regulations that have been set out in the Government’s roadmap, for ending this period of the crisis in order to keep our families, friends and loved ones safe. So please get the vaccine when it is offered to you, and remember we all still need to follow ‘hands, face, space’ to help keep Hackney safe. Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney I have been a doctor for over 33 years make an informed decision about getting the vaccine, and this pandemic has emphasised using reliable information from trusted sources. to me just how important it is for us It remains vital we continue with the good habits we’ve all to work together to ensure our learned over the past year, including physical distancing, populations are kept safe and healthy. hand-washing, wearing face coverings and ventilating indoor spaces. It’s too early to end social distancing, but Governments, scientists and pharmaceutical as lockdown measures ease – in accordance with the companies from across the globe have worked government’s plans – we can together to create safe, effective vaccines for the socialise a bit more, while still whole world. What a testament to the human spirit! taking all these precautions. The fact that millions of people have already received Importantly, when it’s your turn their first dose of the vaccine gives me great joy. to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Coronavirus will never go away but vaccinations play make sure you book your a key role in reducing its impact. Vaccines have already appointment right away and stopped previously deadly viruses, such as polio, keep yourself and your tetanus and smallpox, from killing or debilitating community safe from COVID-19. huge numbers of people across the world. Vaccines also play a huge role in helping to keep the most vulnerable safe from the flu virus. COVID vaccines can greatly reduce your chance of Dr Sandra Husbands, severe illness and there is evidence they also help to Director of Public reduce transmission. In this booklet I want to give Health for City people the facts to make sure everyone is able to and Hackney CONTENTS • How to book your COVID-19 vaccination 3 • Find your nearest COVID-19 vaccination site 4 • Local doctors answer your questions 5 • Which COVID-19 test should I take 7 • COVID-19 testing sites 8 HOW TO BOOK YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION How to book your vaccination You can check which age groups are currently being vaccinated by going to: 1 You will receive a text, call or letter from the NHS inviting you to book an appointment hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine The vaccine will reduce the chance of you becoming 2 You will either be offered an appointment at one of the four local sites in Hackney, seriously ill from COVID-19, which can be deadly. or asked to go to one of London’s mass Getting your vaccine as soon as you are offered it vaccination centres should protect you and will help to protect your family and those you care for. 3 Book your appointment as soon as you can, you may be offered an appointment for your second dose at the same time Beware of scams The vaccine is only available through the NHS and it Attend your appointment and set a 4 is free. You will never be asked to pay or asked for reminder for your second dose your bank details. Attend the appointment for your 5 You can report a scam here: second dose actionfraud.police.uk/ Book your appointment online reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime When you become eligible for the vaccination you can book your appointment via the national portal by calling 119 or visiting: nhs.uk/coronavirus You will receive a text, call or letter from the If you had to delay booking your appointment and the government announces new eligible age groups, you NHS inviting you to book can still book your appointment at any time using the an appointment national portal details or by speaking to your GP. COVID-19 vaccine rollout Keep up to date There are now three vaccines which have been Get COVID-19 and vaccination updates directly to rigorously assessed by the independent medicines your inbox here: hackney.gov.uk/newsletters regulation authority, the MHRA, as being both safe and Latest COVID-19 information here: effective in helping to protect you from COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccinations in the UK are provided free of charge by the NHS- you will never need to pay to • Testing for COVID-19 and support on offer: be vaccinated. hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-support • COVID-19 vaccinations: Over 40,000 people across Hackney have already been hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine vaccinated with thousands more being vaccinated every week, and over 200 million people across the • Local COVID-19 data: world have now safely received a vaccine. hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-data The NHS will be working to vaccinate all adults and The Council has translated this booklet into a number inviting people according to their age. Once your of community languages, request one here: age group is eligible for vaccination you will be [email protected] contacted by the NHS when it’s your turn. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is free and easy 3 FIND YOUR NEAREST COVID-19 VACCINATION SITE For Hackney residents there are four local vaccination sites: You need to: • John Scott Health Centre, Green Lanes • have two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at two appointments • Bocking Street Vaccination Centre, Hackney Central • get the second dose 11 to 12 weeks after getting your first dose • Clockwork Pharmacy, Mare Street • Busy Bees Pharmacy, Clapton Appointments at these local sites are generally prioritised for those who are not able to travel far and second vaccinations for older and vulnerable residents. Most non-vulnerable residents will be invited to attend mass vaccination centres, the nearest ones are: • Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford • Excel Centre, Royal Docks, Newham • Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre, Crouch End Local health and care workers may also be offered a Dr Shaine Mehta with Josie Casey 83 years old, the vaccination through local Barts or Homerton hospitals. first person to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Hackney How to get to Train: Custom House and Prince Regent the Excel Centre stations, on the DLR, serve the Excel Bus: 388/308 from Hackney to Stratford and then swap to 241/473 from Stratford Bus Station The easiest way to get to the Excel from Hackney • Get the overground directly to Stratford then take a bus from Stratford Bus Station heading to Canning Town or North Woolwich How to get to Train: Stratford Train Station Westfield Bus: 388/308 to Stratford Shopping Centre The easiest way to get to Westfield from Hackney: • Get the overground directly to Stratford • If you live in north Hackney take a bus to Tottenham Hale, then the National Rail train to Stratford Wear your face covering on public transport 4 Plan your journey to the mass vaccination sites: tfl.gov.uk/jabs CONCERNED ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE? IT’S SAFE, HERE’S WHY Local doctors answer your questions: Has the vaccine been tested on Dr Sandra Husbands different types of people? Director of Public Health The vaccines have been in clinical trials across a number of countries with hundreds of thousands of people taking part. Although smaller numbers of black and minority ethnic people have been involved in the vaccine trials, the results that are available show that it is safe across all the age groups and ethnic groups. Across the UK, more than 21 million people from all backgrounds have already received their first vaccine dose outside of the trials. What makes people wary of the Are there any side effects? COVID-19 vaccine? Like any medicine, including those you can buy over Some people are hesitant to take the vaccine because the counter, such as paracetamol or antihistamines, of the troubled history of racism and discrimination vaccines can have some side-effects. Most of these are in medical testing. There are true events where racism mild and short-lived and not everyone gets them. and discrimination have played into unethical medical testing. However, I want to reassure our residents Common side-effects of the COVID-19 that for the COVID-19 vaccines that sad history is not vaccine include: repeating itself. All the vaccines approved have been • soreness where the needle went in tested in an ethical way.