Bristol Uni students are being invited for their first Covid vaccine

One student, with no underlying health conditions, told us ‘Initially I thought it was a scam’

| UPDATED

Students who have reported having no underlying health conditions were invited by the Student Health Service for their first Covid vaccine today.

The text states that the Student Health Service are currently offering the first vaccine, with a 12 week period before the second vaccination.

Student Health Services told students who had been contacted that they must book an appointment via a link provided, with the first vaccinations taking place next week.

They also urged students to make appointments as soon as possible, because spaces are limited and in high demand.

The Bristol Tab spoke to Emma*, a third year Biology student, who received a text message inviting her for the vaccine. Emma told us she has no underlying health conditions that would make her eligible for an early vaccine. She said: “I was quite confused, initially I thought it was a scam.

“Obviously I’d rather the vaccines go to those who need it more than me, but if these are surplus or can’t go to anyone else for some reason then I’m really grateful for the chance.”

According to The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the next people to be offered the jab are those aged between 40-49 years, 30-39 years and then, only after that, all those 18-29 years old. It is predicted they will start to reach these groups by mid-April.

Currently, over 21 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine, with another one million having had received their second dose.

The Student Health Service told The Bristol Tab: “The Student’s Health Service is part of the HealthWest Primary Care Network which is delivering the Covid Vaccine programme out of Clifton College Preparatory School.

“They are administering both the Pfizer and AZ/Oxford vaccines at the site and are due to begin their round of second vaccines very shortly for the highest priority groups, alongside continuing their work through the age brackets for the rest of their population.

“They have offered vaccinations to all their frontline healthcare workers early in the process and worked with the Medical and Dental schools to ensure those groups were covered; They have completed their clinically vulnerable or shielding groups; They have offered vaccination appointments to their at risk groups age 16-65, this includes anyone on the Learning Disability Register. They are in the process of offering vaccination appointments to the 55-59 age group.

“No other students have been offered a vaccination at this stage if they do not have an underlying health condition listed on their medical record, are clinically vulnerable or shielding or are frontline health care workers.”

*This is not the student’s real name as they preferred to remain anonymous

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