Appeal for anyone over the age of 70 in Cornwall to book their coronavirus vaccination
Any locals who are in the top four priority groups and have not yet had the jab can now do so without having received an invite
People in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who are aged 70 and over and have not yet received their COVID vaccine are being urged to make their appointments.
From Tuesday 9th February, any local who falls into one of the top four priority groups will be able to book a vaccine appointment without having received an invite.
The appeal from NHS Kernow comes as a woman from up country reveals she lost both her parents to Covid-19, just two days before they were due to have their jabs.
Lisa Harding from Coningsby is urging anyone who is eligible to book as soon as possible, saying she is devastated.
"It's like being hit by a truck and it makes no earthly sense to me whatsoever and it just seems unfair - by days they missed having their vaccine.
"I'd give anything to turn back the clock and try and get my mum and dad, who were in their seventies, to try and get them the jab to give them a chance because I feel like their chance - it came too late".
Lisa Harding
How do I book my vaccination appointment?
The quickest way book your appointment is online on the NHS website.
You can also make a free call to 119 between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
People choosing the national booking system will have the option of making an appointment at the vaccine clinics based at the large vaccination centres at Stithians Showground, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, Home Park, Plymouth or the selected local pharmacies.
The pharmacies providing this service are Reeds in Truro and Roche Pharmacy, Roche, Arnolds Pharmacy , which is vaccinating from Westward Ho! Baptist Church, Bideford, Devon and the Devonport Pharmacy, which is running the service from the Plymouth Cricket Ground, Plymouth.
This step allows people who are eligible for the vaccination to be proactive with their appointment and it is hoped that any local residents who have yet to be contacted with details of how to get their vaccine can receive the vaccination without waiting longer than is necessary.
There are now 16 GP-led local vaccination services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and primary care networks have also been successfully vaccinating the most vulnerable as quickly as possible.
Vaccination appointments through a GP surgery are still available and if you have already been contacted to book your appointment or have an appointment already booked, please keep it.
Iain Davidson, clinical lead for the large scale vaccination centres and the hospital hub and chief pharmacist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Thanks to the efforts of our primary care colleagues, our acute staff, pharmacists and volunteers and many more people across health and care our vaccination programme has so far been a great success, with nearly 135,000 doses administered since the beginning of December, which includes the vaccine being offered to all care homes and more than 91 % of people aged over 80.
"To help ensure that absolutely everyone is offered the vaccine, people within the top four priority groups can book online or call without a letter so they can be vaccinated by the middle of the month".
Clinical Lead Iain Davidson
Dr Rob White, clinical lead for the primary care COVID-19 vaccination programme and NHS Kernow Governing Body member, said: "Our GP-led primary care networks are successfully pulling out all the stops to vaccinate the most vulnerable as quickly as possible and meet the national target set for the middle of February.
"Any person who is already booked in to receive the vaccine at a GP-led clinic or has been contacted to be book their appointment at the service should still attend, rather than arranging a new one online or over the phone, in order to ensure that no vaccines go to waste".
Dr Rob White
Health and social care workers, who are also among the top four priority groups, should speak to their employer about arranging their vaccination.