Hastings residents asked to share vaccine experiences

People in Hastings are being asked to share their experiences of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine for a health survey which is closing today (March 31).
The Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne is being used as a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre. SUS-210126-131959001The Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne is being used as a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre. SUS-210126-131959001
The Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne is being used as a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre. SUS-210126-131959001

During the last month Healthwatch East Sussex has been capturing the experiences of people who have been vaccinated and the views of those awaiting an invitation for their jab through its Covid-19 Vaccination Survey.

Over the last five weeks nearly 900 people have shared their experience of receiving a Covid-19 vaccination or their views about receiving one in the future.

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But Healthwatch says it still wants to hear from more people living in Hastings particularly men aged under 50 and anyone who has yet to have their Covid-19 jab.

A spokesperson for Healthwatch East Sussex said: “We are delighted that so many people have responded, and still want to capture feedback from as many people in East Sussex.

“Our goal is to obtain over a thousand responses before the survey closes at the end of March. We want to hear from everyone but we have not received so much feedback yet from people in these groups.

“Responding to the survey will help us to learn whether the vaccination process is meeting the needs of recipients and to identify any aspects that may be improved for others.

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“We also want anyone who has not been vaccinated to tell us whether they will accept an invitation for an injection and their reasons for accepting, declining or seeking to wait.”

The survey’s findings so far show that 98% of those receiving a Covid-19 vaccination said they would recommend having one to their family and friends while 96% of vaccination recipients felt safe or very safe at vaccination sites.

The most common reasons people accepted a vaccination were to protect themselves or their family, friends and loved ones (both 98%).

72% of those yet to receive a vaccination would definitely or are likely to accept one, 19% were definitely or are likely to reject one and 9% had already declined one.

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The most common reasons for not wishing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination are a retention of personal choice (67%), a desire to wait and see if issues arise with the vaccine (61%) and concerns about safety (55%).

The closing date for completing the survey is midnight today (March 31).

The findings will be published on the Healthwatch East Sussex website. Insight provided by the public will be shared with health and care providers and decision-makers to inform and improve the vaccination programme in East Sussex.

The survey can be completed in confidence online at https://healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/covid-19-vaccination-survey/ or by calling 0333 101 4007 (lines open 10am-2pm).

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