Around 600,000 over-75s, care home residents and those over 12 who are immunosuppressed will be invited to book a spring Covid booster from today.
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This comes after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in February recommended a further booster for those at higher risk because vaccination declines over time and many received their most recent dose in autumn 2021.
NHS England said the vaccination programme will contact people when it is their turn to be vaccinated. People will then be able to book their appointment through the national booking system either online or by calling NHS 119.
In total, about five million people will be eligible for a spring booster dose, according to NHS England.
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NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: ‘The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has not stopped in its efforts to protect people from coronavirus – around five million of the most vulnerable people will be eligible for a spring dose and from tomorrow [21 March], we will start giving eligible groups their additional top up in protection.
‘We have protected millions of people at speed thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge.’
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This comes after the Government said it intends to extend relaxed vaccine rules enabling a wider workforce to administer Covid vaccines during the pandemic.
