PRSA mass vaccination centre to re-open in Boston this weekend

One of the county’s two Mass Vaccination Centres, along with Lincolnshire Showground, the PRSA is a vital part of Lincolnshire’s covid vaccination programme, having made a significant contribution to the vaccinations given to local people during the pandemic.

“I am delighted that, with the help of our friends at 1Life, we are able to re-open PRSA for covid vaccinations this Sunday,” comments Rebecca Neno, Director of Covid and Influenza Vaccination Programmes, NHS Lincolnshire CCG.

“Our vaccination team on-site, led by Karen Hewinson, have responded just as I would have expected and have ably dealt with all that Storm Eunice threw at them, including having to temporarily relocate off-site to Fenside Community Centre over the last two weeks.

“I know they are looking forward to getting back to PRSA, and to seeing people coming in for their covid vaccinations, whether that be boosters or first or second jabs.

“Please note that, like our site at the Lincolnshire Showground, PRSA will now be open between 2.30pm-7.30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

PRSA’s re-opening will reintroduce significant capacity at another important time in the continuing rollout of the covid vaccination, particularly as the NHS and its partners in the county gear up to offer additional boosters to a number of different groups of people, as recommended by the JCVI.

“There are several parts to this including an additional booster for those aged over 75, all residents in care homes for older adults, and all over 12s who are immunosuppressed,” explains Rebecca.

“Whilst we’re not quite there yet, if you’re in one of these groups we will let you know when you can come forwards for your additional booster.”

In addition to the ongoing offer of boosters and first and second doses, and planning for the forthcoming additional boosters, the county’s vaccination teams are also vaccinating those 5-11 year-olds deemed clinically vulnerable and those who live with someone who is immunosuppressed, and from April onwards will also vaccinate ‘healthy’ 5-11 year-olds, in line with JCVI guidance.

If you are a parent or guardian of a 5-11 year-old who is clinically vulnerable or who lives with someone who is immunosuppressed, you will be contacted by the NHS locally – if you haven’t already been – by phone or text message and offered an appointment for your 5-11 year-old.

“As with the vaccination of adults, we know that some parents and guardians are concerned about possible side-effects for their child having the covid vaccination. We are also aware of a perceived lower risk of covid in this age group,” comments Rebecca.

“As with adults, if children get any side-effects, they tend to be mild and short-term, lasting only a day or two, and include things like having a heavy or sore arm where they have had the injection, feeling achy or like they have flu, feeling tired or having a headache.

“Whilst the vast majority of young children experience only mild symptoms as a result of covid, or even have no symptoms at all, it is worth remembering that not getting vaccinated could lead to an increased risk for some children that they experience long covid, and a minority may develop a delayed response known as Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome.

“As a parent myself, I understand the concerns other parents and guardians might have, however, it’s important to remember that for decades vaccinations have protected our children from a range of potentially serious diseases, including whooping cough, polio, mumps, rubella, meningitis and flu, and the covid jab is one more vaccination children can have to protect them from illness, giving us all the best possible protection, including against future covid waves, as well as the opportunity to return to some kind of life as normal.”

The vaccination teams also continue to offer pop-up vaccination sessions in Boston whereby anyone eligible can have their vaccination on a walk-in basis, including boosters (16 and over) or first and second doses (available to anyone aged 16 and over, as well as 12-15 year-olds provided a parent/guardian is present to consent).

The Boston sessions are as follows:

l Saturday 5th March at Fenside Community Centre, Taverner Road, Boston PE21 8NL, between 12pm and 7pm.

l Sunday 6th March at Boston Local Community Centre, Mitre Lane, Boston PE21 6EB, between 10am and 4pm,

l Monday 7th March at Fenside Community Centre, Taverner Road, Boston PE21 8NL, between 12pm and 7pm.