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COVID-19

Vaccine Programme: Frequently Asked Questions

We understand lots of residents have questions or concerns about the vaccine itself, how the roll out programme is taking place and the practicalities of getting vaccinated. So we hope to have answered some of the main points that should help to alleviate any uncertainty or queries you might have.

Read Our FAQs About The Vaccination Programme

Booking Your COVID-19 Vaccine

GP-Led Local Vaccination Service

All of our GP-led sites in North Tyneside are focused on rescheduling and ensuring delivery of 2nd doses of Covid vaccine to the most vulnerable in our community from cohorts 1-9, at the shorter 8 week dose interval. 

Local GP-led vaccination services in North Tyneside are led by the four Primary Care Networks (PCNs), across three vaccination sites:

  • The Parks, North Shields – for those registered with a GP Practice in the Whitley Bay or North Shields PCN areas.
  • The Langdale Centre, Wallsend – for those registered with a GP Practice in the Wallsend PCN area.
  • The Oxford Centre, Longbenton – for those registered with a GP Practice in the North West PCN area.

Second dose appointments for the above services are being brought forward to 8 weeks. Your practice will contact you if you appointment is changing by text, email or letter. PLEASE DO NOT PHONE YOUR GP ABOUT GETTING A COVID VACCINE.

If you need to cancel your second dose appointment at one of the GP-led sites, please email:

  1. ntccg.covidatthecoast@nhs.net for The Parks, North Shields
  2. ntccg.nwntpcn@nhs.net or ring 0330 223 0349 for the Oxford Centre, Longbenton
  3. ntccg.wallsendpcn@nhs.net for the Langdale Centre, Wallsend

If you had your first dose at your local GP practice, then please contact them directly to cancel or rebook your second dose, if you haven’t been contacted already.

National Booking Service

You can book a COVID vaccine online via the National Booking Service, or by phoning 119, between 7am – 11pm, if:

  • You are aged 25 or over or turn 25 before the 1st July 2021
  • You are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
  • You have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
  • You have a learning disability
  • You are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
  • You get a Carer’s Allowance, get support following an assessment by the local authority or North Tyneside Carer’s Centre, or your GP record shows you are a carer

The National Booking Service now provides access to sixteen pharmacy hubs which are operational across North Tyneside, plus larger vaccination centres, such as Newcastle’s Centre for Life and Sunderland’s Nightingale Hospital. Other pharmacy hubs and larger vaccination centres are also available across the North East region, and more are opening all the time.

The vaccination programme for cohorts 10 – 12 (those < 50 years old, who are not at high risk of severe covid disease) – or anyone from cohorts 1-9 who hasn’t yet come forward for a vaccine, but wants one – will continue in North Tyneside through the National Booking Service which gives access to appointments for sixteen pharmacy-led hubs across the borough, as well as three walk-in services.

Your GP cannot provide help with the National Booking Service, please contact the service directly on-line or phone 119. This service is also contacting all eligible people with the JCVI recommendation of bringing 2nd doses forward to an 8 weeks dose interval for those in cohorts 1-9.

Our Local Vaccination Programme
Visit The NHS Booking Service

COVID-19 Status Certification

Ahead of further lockdown restrictions easing please note the following:

  • GP practices CANNOT provide you with vaccination status certification.
  • Proof of vaccination status will be done via the existing NHS app.
  • You can download and register now on the app ahead of the system going live from Monday 17th May (17.05.21).
  • You can also call 119 if you need a letter for foreign travel.
  • We ask that you don’t call your GP practice about this, as our practices are unable to assist with this.

For details on how to download and use the NHS App with a smartphone or tablet visit the NHS website here.

For details on COVID-19 Status and why you might need it visit the UK Government website here.

  • Volunteer with the Vaccination Programme

    We’re looking for volunteers from a clinical background to support us with the COVID-19 Vaccine Programme across North Tyneside.

    If you’re interested in volunteering with TyneHealth please click the button below and fill out our volunteering form.

  • Register To Volunteer

  • National Restrictions

    The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a roadmap to a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions. As of Monday 17th May:

    Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal.

    Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply.

    Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place.

    Indoor hospitality will reopen –  customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.

    Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas can reopen.

    Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can open plus indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will be allowed.

    Some larger performances and sporting events can take place with up to 1,000 people indoors, 4,000 most outdoor setting and up to 10,000 people in large outdoor seated venues.

    Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.

  • Read the full details

  • NHS Coronavirus Information

    COVID-19 has been the single greatest public health emergency in the history of the NHS.

    It’s important we all do our bit to support our healthcare system and our own communities.

    For the latest up-to-date medical advice about Covid-19 and more please visit the NHS website.

  • Read the latest guidance

Access to GP Services During COVID-19

GP Practices have remained open during the whole of the COVID-19 pandemic and are busier than ever; with consultations figures in March showing that GPs are delivering 1 million appointments a week more than pre-pandemic levels.

A range of ways to speak to your GP now exist, from e-consults via practice websites, to video or phone consultations or face to face appointments which have always been offered to those that need to see someone, throughout the pandemic.

If you need to contact a GP, please do not go into the surgery in person. You can:

Your GP surgery will then give you advice about what to do.

A phone or video call with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional may be booked for you. You’ll be asked to visit the surgery for a face to face appointment and assessment if that is needed.

The safety of patients and our staff is hugely important and this may mean – depending on the GP Surgery building constraints and waiting room size – that practical arrangements are in place that look and feel different to what you are used to pre-COVID. This is to ensure that social distancing and infection control measures can be adhered to, for the safety of all.

Your GP surgery may be very busy at the moment, so you may have to wait longer than usual to speak to someone if it’s not urgent. Please #BeKind to our Primary Care teams who are working very hard in difficult circumstances to make sure you are seen by the right person at the right time.

You can find contact information about all of the North Tyneside GP Practices here.

NEW - Surge Testing (for People Without Symptoms)

Everyone who lives, works or learns in North Tyneside is being encouraged to get tested following a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases and detection of a variant first identified in India.

This is to help stop rising infection rates of COVID-19 in the borough and to understand where variants of concern are. These are the PCR tests which are sent off to a lab to be checked. PCR testing not only helps to identify someone who is positive, it helps monitor any new strains and identify any new patterns in virus behaviour.

As part of the Government’s surge testing offer in North Tyneside, Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) are open, 10am-4pm, in the following locations:

  • Wallsend Forum, behind the Anson pub
  • Bedford Street, North Shields
  • Shiremoor, next to Aldi and Costa

You can just turn up without an appointment – North Tyneside Council alongside local and national health teams are adding additional testing capacity including greater availability of PCR testing soon.

There will be new walk-in temporary test sites popping up across the borough, including one in the North West of the borough coming very soon.

COVID-19 NHS Testing Sites (for People with Symptoms)

If you have COVID-19 symptoms you can get tested at either of North Tyneside’s two walk-through testing sites in North Shields and Wallsend, between 8am-8pm, 7 days a week including weekends.

Appointments must be booked in advance and can be made at the following website or by calling 119.

More information about these testing sites are available on the North Tyneside Council website here.

  • Parks Leisure Centre Overflow Car Park, North Shields
  • Coronation Street Car Park, Wallsend

COVID-19 Testing (for People without Symptoms)

Everyone without symptoms will now be able to access twice-weekly rapid tests for coronavirus.

North Tyneside Council are leading the initiative. Everyone in the borough can access FREE lateral flow tests via a variety of ways in North Tyneside, as below. Please remember to record your result, even if it’s negative, either online here or by calling 119. This regular lateral flow testing should be continued alongside the current PCR surge testing availability.

  • Community testing in person and community collect at the Riverside Centre, North Shields: You can take a test at the site by booking an appointment here. Alternatively, you can pick up a box of tests to use at home from the centre. The centre is open seven days a week – you can find the opening times in the ‘details’ section here.
  • Pharmacy collect: Free tests can be picked up from pharmacies across North Tyneside. Over the coming weeks, more and more pharmacies will be signing up. NHS England’s site finder allows you to search pharmacies near you that offer pharmacy collect, see here.
  • NHS Test & Trace sites: The Parks Leisure Centre, in North Shields, and Coronation Street, Wallsend, operate as testing sites for people with symptoms in the morning, but are currently providing an afternoon collect option, where you can pick up a box of rapid tests to use at home. You don’t need to book to collect rapid tests, just turn up between 2.30pm and 8pm.
  • Education: Staff in all schools and students in secondary schools and colleges are already being given tests to use at home twice a week, throughout term time and the holidays.
  • Postal kits – LFD Direct: For people who can’t access tests through the other routes, you can order a box of tests online or through 119, which will be delivered to your home. Order them here.
  • Workplace testing: Lots of employers across North Tyneside are offering testing, so if your employer offers workplace testing this is a great route for you to access rapid tests.

Key Facts

  • One in three people with COVID-19 do not show symptoms and are unaware that they might be spreading the infection – this testing can help identify these individuals. Once identified, we are able to trace contacts and prevent transmission of infection to others.
  • The asymptomatic testing is to identify positive cases and it’s really important that those taking part continue to follow the government lockdown and public health advice, even if they test negative.
  • Please note, the rapid tests are for people without symptoms. Testing remains available for everyone in the borough with symptoms. If you have symptoms (a continuous cough, high temperate or loss/change to your sense of smell or taste), you should self-isolate and book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

More information can be found on the North Tyneside Council website here.

#MyVaccineStoryNT

We have been capturing these moments to tell North Tyneside’s Vaccine Story – a moving digital record of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.

From volunteers to medics, nurses, residents and more we have been sharing their stories on social media with the hashtag #MyVaccineStoryNT.

We will keep building and adding to this record as more stories come in and more people share their experiences with us.

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