Entertainment
For the love of dog will someone please give Monty Don the booster jab
Monty is keen for the booster, but claims he can’t track it down (Picture: BBC/Richard Hanmer)
Presenter Monty Don has shared his desperation for a Covid booster vaccine, but claimed he’s yet to be contacted or able to track one down in his local area.
The beloved BBC presenter, 66, who fronts Gardeners’ World from Longmeadow near Leominster alongside his famous dogs including golden retriever Nellie, claimed he was unable to get an appointment for his third vaccine appointment, despite the government encouraging eligible people to schedule their booster.
At the moment, the booster vaccine is available for people most at risk from Covid-19 who have had a 2nd dose of a vaccine at least six months ago.
Eligible people can book a vaccination appointment online at a vaccination centre or pharmacy, go to a walk-in vaccination site without needing an appointment, or wait to be contacted by a local NHS service, such as a GP surgery, and book an appointment with them.
Seemingly unable to do any of those, Monty wrote on Twitter on Monday: ‘The government is urging us all to get boosters – and I would love to.
‘But although I have been eligible for a month I have had no contact at all and there is no booster programme in the whole of the county of Herefordshire.’
While others agreed with the presenter and shared they too found difficulty tracking down a booster, the Chief Executive of Wye Valley NHS Trust got in touch with Monty and insisted it was not the case.
Glen Burley responded: ‘That’s actually not correct. We are offering boosters via primary care across the County and through our vaccination centre at Elgar House #CEOGlen.’
In an attempt to put to rest the debate in Monty’s comments, with more than 374 people sharing replies, Herefordshire GP federation Taurus Healthcare also waded in with a link to book and wrote: ‘This isn’t correct. We are delivering thousands of booster vaccinations in the county.
‘Dates are listed on the national booking system but demand is high and slots fill quickly. Please keep checking as new dates get added daily.’
As concerns grow over the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, the UK is ramping up its coronavirus safety measures – including encouraging the public to get their booster jabs.
More: BBC
If you are eligible for the booster vaccine then you can get the third jab at a walk-in clinic, with people to be sent a letter, text message, or email inviting them to get their booster vaccine.
In lieu of prebooking a vaccine appointment, you can opt to get it done at a walk-in clinic, and you can find your nearest walk-in vaccine site on the NHS website.
You do not have to prebook to get a jab at a walk-in clinic, and you do not need to be registered with a GP.
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