Information about text message invites for Covid-19 vaccination

In order to be able to offer a more flexible booking process for the Covid-19 vaccination program, we are now sending a text message to patients who have a mobile phone listed on their records. This page has some Frequently Asked Questions about this process.

The text will come from “Compass House Medical Centres” and will invite you by name.

The text will include a link to this page, and also the booking link includes “nhs.uk”. If you do receive a link you’re unsure about, please remember, we will never ask for your bank details or take payment for the vaccine.

The invite will say your name, but if there is more than one person with that name and the incorrect person tries to book, they will not be able to get through security.

Don’t worry, we can also book you by talking to you. If you receive a text but cannot book using the link, we will contact you. We will be running searches to see who hasn’t yet booked, and we will call people. Don’t worry – you won’t miss out.

The clinics are at the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC) in Torquay . When you book, you will get a confirmation text with the address details.

Yes, please wear a face covering if you are able to. If you have a medical exemption, please wear a face shield instead. This is for your protection, as well as other patients and staff on site.

If you are currently isolating, please do not book an appointment yet, wait until you have a negative test result. If you develop symptoms after booking, you can cancel your appointment using the same link.

Current advice is not to have the vaccine if you’ve had a Covid positive test in the last four weeks. We will be contacting all our patients that have been invited and not booked an appointment. If you cancelled your appointment and would like to book again please call the surgery after 11AM.

Please keep trying every day or two over the next week as new appointments will be added as we get new vaccines delivered.

The current guidance is your second vaccine will be 12 weeks after your first. You will be invited to book this at a later day prior your 12th week.

That’s fine – we are just pleased you are getting vaccinated! There is no need to tell us, we will get notified automatically.

You will be offered a range of appointment times, but if you can’t make any of them, check back in a day or so for the next release of appointments.

The link is only valid for the person it is sent to. Your partner will get a text of their own, or a telephone call, to book them in.

The most likely reason is that we are sending text invites out in batches as we only have a certain amount of vaccines to give at once, they will get an invite when their batch has been included. It could also be because we have the wrong number recorded on their medical records. If you think this might be the case, please contact us either by phone (after 11AM) or e-mail to update.

As well as a mask, please make sure you wrap up warmly as the queue starts outside. We hope not to keep you waiting for too long. If it is raining, please bring your umbrella.

Yes, there is a car park, and marshals to help keep traffic moving.

Yes, please ask them to wear a mask.

Carers will be invited by NHS when we get to this group.

We encourage everyone to come on their own where possible for everyone’s safety. If this is not possible, you can bring your child(ren) with you, if they are able to wear a mask, please do get them to do so.

All the up to date information about the vaccines can be found here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

At the moment, we have been allocated both the Pfizer and the Astra Zeneca vaccines, and each clinic will have one or the other. We do not offer the choice of the vaccine. If there is a medical reason why you cannot have one of the vaccines, please ring the practice (after 11AM) to discuss.

Please see the below information on a couple of local volunteer organisations that might be able to assist you with transport:

KARING is a registered charity operating in the Preston district of Paignton, Devon providing transport run by volunteers. They can be contacted on 01803 524799. Website: https://sites.google.com/a/karing.org.uk/karing-voluntary-group/ 

TORBAY Community Helpline is a community helpline, started initially for those affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Tel. 01803 446022 Website: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXfCikatEQtW2Gpesn5qjdlacx5-WUSxh0r9XrKNDB_j9QDA/viewform

If you are genuinely housebound, please call the surgery to discuss.

It can take a few days for the system to record your vaccination onto your medical record. As a result, you may receive an SMS invite following your vaccination appointment. If it is more than a few days since you had the vaccine, please contact us using the admin pathway on Patient Triage or e-mail us.

The system we are using to offer these appointments is called “accuBook” which is run by “accuRx”. This is the same company we use to send text messages to our patients. accuBook is an NHS Digital assured appointment management solution, and more information on this service can be found at https://support.accurx.com/en/articles/4794856-i-have-been-invited-to-book-my-covid-19-vaccination-through-a-book-nhs-me-link-is-this-legitimate?fbclid=IwAR1NOj3ALaK6SKZAtaCGoDGXVmtvs9v26-_m01aJGHRVcVyH38gu1OjGspc