The spring 2023 booster vaccine top-up is avaliabe from April for people aged over-75 years, anyone aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed* and residents in care homes for older adults. Individuals must have completed a primary course of 2 or 3 doses AND previous dose must have been at least 91 days before receiving the spring booster.

*as defined in the ‘Immunosuppression’ rows of Tables 3 and 4 in the Green Book, Chapter 14a

Seasonal boosters help to top up the immunity of anyone at higher risk if they catch the virus. Those identified as eligible are usually notified and can include specified age groups, people living with certain health conditions, carers, pregnant women and health and social care workers. 

Boosters are most likely available in spring and autumn each year, but this may vary depending on the nature of the COVID-19 virus at the time. 

Please visit the GOV.UK COVID-19 pages for more information. 

Zoom in on the map using the + button bottom left to see where you can get a jab near you

Book an appointment

Book your appointment via the NHS National Service or call 119. 

The national booking service allows people to see available appointments for 25 days at a time and they open a weeks worth of appointments each Monday. 

Dorset COVID-19 vaccination sites

GPs have their own local booking system and may contact you direct to arrange your vaccination with them. You can do this or, if you prefer, you can book your appointment on the National Booking Service to have your vaccination at a range of locations including vaccination centres, community hospitals and pharmacies which are providing the service shown on the table below.

NBS - National Booking Service

LBS - Local booking service

The locations below show all the vaccination sites in Dorset offering first doses and spring boosters. You can select a lcoation for your jab on the National Booking Service.

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Cancelling/rearranging an appointment

If you need to cancel or rearrange your booking, visit the National Booking System and visit the manage your appointment section.

If you've booked through your GP, you will need to rearrange/cancel through them.

Everybody over the age of 16 can still come forward for their first and second doses of the vaccine until the end of June. 

Getting your COVID-19 vaccine is the single best way to protect yourself and others. It’s not too late to get either of the doses you’re eligible for.

Community pharmacies – appointment only via National Booking Service or local booking service. 

Clinics for children and young people

Children and young people aged from 5-17 can still get their first and second COVID-19 vaccinations. These primary doses of the vaccine are available at our larger clinics across the county.

The vaccine continues to offer the best protection for people of all ages to stay well while the virus is still circulating in our schools and communities. It’s particularly important for those who may be at risk due to a health condition or because of a weakened immune system, or who are living with someone who has a weakened immune system.

Children’s clinic appointments are bookable online via the National Booking Service during the following opening hours:

·       Kings’ Park Hospital, Bournemouth, BH7 6JF – Mondays (3.15-5.30pm) and Wednesdays (2.30-5.30pm)

·       Linden Unit, Weymouth, DT4 0QE – Tuesdays (2.30-4pm).

Please note, only children who were age five on or before 31 August 2022 are eligible for the primary doses, unless they are at risk due to a health condition or because of a weakened immune system.

Sensory room 

A relaxing, dedicated space has been created at the King’s Park vaccination centre in Boscombe for young people and adults with learning disabilities or severe and long-term mental health conditions.

The sensory room is for anyone who may need some extra support whilst receiving their vaccination to use to help them keep calm away from the communal waiting area that may be noisy or cause anxiety. Find out more in our news story.

If you are pregnant, it is important that you have all the Covid-19 vaccinations you are eligible for. It is safe to have the Covid vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy.

The ingredients from the vaccine leave your body after a few days after sending a signal to your immune system to create the antibodies that will recognise and fight the virus.

As with all vaccines, including flu, studies[3] have shown that protective antibodies developed from Covid vaccination can transfer from mother to baby across the placenta, and after birth through breast milk, helping with the baby’s immunity for the first few months of their lives.[4]

Visit the gov.uk latest guidance for more information. 

[3] American Medical Association: Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Cord Blood SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Placental Transfer Ratios

[4] Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Vaccination

Find out more about the safety and efficiency of the COVID-19 vaccine when you're pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby on the NHS website. 

Anyone who do not have access to transport can get help to attend their vaccination appointment via community transport services.

For more information please visit:

BCP Council area - https://sedcat.org.uk/need-help-with-transport-for-your-covid-vaccine

Dorset Council area - Dorset Community Transport Directory - Dorset Council

Ahead of your visit

Please check out the parking and transport situations for the site you are attending and factor this in to your journey.

It is helpful to bring with you :

• your booking confirmation if you have a booked appointment - this may be a letter, an email or a note you have made of the booking reference
• your NHS number
• a note of any regular medication you take
• proof of eligibility and photo ID.

If you have a carer, require support or are a little nervous about getting your jab, please do bring someone with you. We also have volunteers who can assist at our larger vaccination centres.

You may bring a support dog but pet dogs must stay at home.

During your visit 

You will find signage, directions, staff and volunteers on site to help guide you. 

You may be asked to confirm key information a number of times. This is to double check that you are correctly booked in and we have the right information for you.

You will need to wear a mask or a visor at all times unless you are exempt.

Cancelling or amending appointments

If you need to cancel your appointment for any reason, you can do so in the manage your appointment section of the vaccine national booking service.

Getting to the vaccination centre

The vaccination centre is on the Kings Park Community Hospital site in Gloucester Road, Bournemouth BH7 6JF.

By car

Travelling westbound on the A338 take the exit for Kings Park and the Vitality Stadium and follow Kings Park Drive until you reach the junction with Gloucester Road, by the indoor bowls centre. There is free on-street parking in this area as well as Kings Park pay and display car park (reference 59046) and you can also park for free in East Cemetery. From here it is a 3 minute walk to the vaccination centre. Please note you cannot drive right to the hospital site from this direction as there is a road barrier. It does, however, allow you to avoid residential roads.

Travelling eastbound on the A338 take the A3049 exit signposted for Boscombe. Leave the roundabout at the second exit then turn left onto Holdenhurst Road. Follow the road to the roundabout and take the second exit into King’s Park Drive. Then follow instructions as above.

From the A35 main Boscombe high street turn into Gloucester Road. The hospital site is on your right towards the end of the road. There is a limited number of parking spaces for the vaccination centre on site and these are clearly marked. There is limited free on-street parking but this road is often busy.

Disabled parking and access

Dedicated disabled parking for the vaccination centre is available on the site.

You can drop off someone attending for their vaccination at the designated area on the site – a volunteer will direct you. There is no parking in this area so you will need to park elsewhere before returning for pick-up.

There are also disabled toilets available.

By bus, by train and on foot

The vaccination centre is a short walk from the main A35 Boscombe high street, which is served by a number of bus routes (Yellow Buses 1, 1B and 2; MoreBus M2). Pokesdown railway station is also on this road and is about 12 minutes’ walk away.

Cycling

There will be an area to lock your bicycle.

We occasionally need to close the centre for various reasons. If this happens this will be shown in the latest news at the top of this page.

When you arrive at the centre

The vaccination centre is near the entrance to the King’s Park site on the right. The area is clearly signposted and volunteer marshals will be on-hand to support. Please go to the reception desk when you arrive.

If you have any symptoms which could indicate COVID-19 please DO NOT enter the building - you can rebook your appointment.

Toilets

There is access to toilets in the vaccination centre – staff and volunteers will direct you.

Sensory room 

A relaxing, dedicated space has been created at the vaccination centre for young people with learning disabilities or severe and long-term mental health conditions.

The sensory room is for those aged 5-15 to use before and during their COVID-19 vaccination to help them keep calm. It avoids them having to utilise a communal waiting area that may be noisy or cause anxiety. Find out more in our news story.

After you’ve had your vaccination

Protection against COVID-19 from the vaccine takes two to three weeks to become effective. 

If you require any information about your vaccination, such as proof of vaccination for a NHS COVID pass, download the NHS App to your smartphone/tablet or check your NHS account.

All the details, regarding your covid vaccinations, including date, product, batch number and where administered, will be available.

Side effects

Common side effects are much less serious than developing coronavirus or flu or the complications associated with each virus, and they usually go away within a few days. 

Everyone is different, so the side effects you may experience (if you get any at all) will depend on which vaccine you receive, whether it’s your first or second dose and you as an individual. Common side effects include:

• Having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection
• Headache or muscle ache
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling tired
• Fever (temperature above 37.8°C)
• Joint pain

You may also have flu-like symptoms with episodes of shivering and shaking for a day or two. If your side effects seem to get worse or if you’re concerned, call or click NHS 111. If you do seek advice from a health professional, make sure you tell them about your vaccination so that they can assess you properly.

Read our frequently asked questions for answers to general questions including what to do if you've had COVID before, if you are housebound and which vaccine is being used.

For all general enquiries, please email: dhc.covidplus@nhs.net 

For queries regarding care home or housebound patients please call: 07552 007714

For queries regarding appointments at one of our vaccination centres, please call: 07779 264351

The team may not be able to respond straight away but aim to answer your query as soon as they can. Sometimes we may need to ask for more information from you before we can resolve your query.

You can also pop in to a vaccination centre with evidence of your medical records/prescription to discuss you eligibility with one of the team.

To change or cancel a booking made on the National Booking System, visit the national website or call 119.