County vaccination booster programme set for lift off  Get your booster now The COVID-19 vaccination booster programme in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) is set for a dramatic acceleration – with capacity to reach more than 10,000 jabs a day by the weekend (18-19 December 2021). Local health and care leaders have set a goal of jabbing up to 160,000 people by New Year's Eve – including offering a booster to the 137,000 people aged 18 and over who will be eligible before year's end. It is part of a national drive to see all of the 18 million eligible 18s-and-over across England offered a jab by 31 December 2021 in order to maximise immunity ahead of an anticipated Omicron virus variant wave in January 2022. Those 18 and over are eligible to have their booster at least three months after their second dose; and can actually book a slot at least two months after that second dose.  Walk-in booster clinic at Darwin Centre 11am to 7pm 15 December The walk-in booster clinic at our Shropshire Local Hub in the Darwin Centre Shrewsbury will now be open from 11am to 7pm this Wednesday 15 December. No appointment is needed, just turn up. Please be patient as we expect it to be busy. Shropshire Council staff will be helping to run the site to support the Booster jab campaign across the county. More walk-in clinics and dates will be available shortly. Look out for more detail in due course. For other walk-in and pop clinics around the county, click here. COVID-19 Booster support - our part in tackling Omicron in Shropshire  Every adult in Shropshire needs to get the COVID-19 booster vaccine Shropshire Council is ready to support the national drive to offer every eligible adult a COVID-19 booster vaccination by the New Year to help stop the spread of the more infectious Omicron virus variant. This will see the public sector almost trebling capacity for boosters, to a similar level it was at the height of the vaccination rollout programme in March 2021. Around 160,000 people in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin will need booster jabs in under three weeks over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Details of walk-in clinics in Shropshire where you can get booster jabs and vaccinations are here The council is already proving support for the vaccination booster programme, including:- - A special transport offer for people, particularly those who are most vulnerable, who cannot get to their booster appointment
- Later this week it will be increasing opening times at its walk-in vaccination facility in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury and open this at least six days a week
- Providing a COVID-19 vaccination helpline to help target those who are most vulnerable and help them get their booster jabs
- Our 5 Ways to Winter Wellness campaign aimed at keeping people physically and mentally well this winter.
Update on Lateral Flow Tests and PCR tests  Make sure you use your LFT kits before collecting or ordering more From today (Tuesday 14 December 2021) fully vaccinated contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should take rapid Lateral Flow Tests every day for 7 days. If you test positive or develop symptoms, you need to self-isolate for 10 days. Due to high demand nationally, residents are being asked to use up any remaining Lateral Flow Tests that they have at home before ordering online or collecting more kits. If you don't have any test kits, Lateral Flow Tests can be picked up at various pharmacies. LTFs are also available from various collection points across the county, where you will be issued with one box containing 7 kits. You can find out where to find your nearest collection points at our Where to get tested in Shropshire page As well as wearing face coverings and washing your hands regularly, Lateral Flow Tests are an important line of defence to help break the chain of transmission. It is still possible to develop COVID-19 and spread the virus, even if you are fully vaccinated. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible, even if you've had one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Coronavirus and COVID-19 latest: What you need to know  Find out the latest COVID-19 information and what you need to know It is more important than ever to have your COVID-19 booster vaccination due to the speed at which the new Omicron variant is spreading. Here's everything you need to know: From 10 December - You must wear a face covering in most indoor public places, at large venues and events, and on public transport.
From 13 December - People aged 30 or over can pre-book a COVID-19 booster dose appointment 2 months after their second dose. Book your booster vaccination appointment or find a walk-in vaccination site.
- You should work from home if you can.
From 14 December - Fully vaccinated contacts of someone with COVID-19 should take rapid Lateral Flow Tests every day for 7 days. If you test positive or develop symptoms, you need to self-isolate for 10 days.
From 15 December - People aged 18 or over will be able to pre-book a COVID-19 booster dose appointment 2 months after their second dose. You can receive your booster dose 3 months after your second dose.
- You'll need to show your NHS COVID Pass at nightclubs, some venues and large events to show you're fully vaccinated, have had a negative test result in the last 48 hours, or you have an exemption.
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