Invites to book a spring Covid booster will be sent out to hundreds of thousands of people this week as the NHS vaccination programme enters its latest stage. Those who are eligible include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over.
Those who are eligible will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn to be vaccinated, in line with new advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Once invited they will be able to book their appointment through the National Booking System either online or by calling NHS 119.
This week around 600,000 people will be invited to book their spring booster. Local NHS teams will also offer vaccinations in care homes with hundreds more visits planned in the coming weeks.
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Overall around five million people will be able to get a spring booster dose. Eligible adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with those aged between 12 and 18 getting offered the Pfizer vaccine.
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, 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.
“There is no need to contact the NHS – when you are eligible for your ‘spring boost’ of protection, we will be in touch so you can book your appointment at one of hundreds of vaccination sites across the country.”
Research by UKHSA estimates since mid-December some 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses. NHS staff and volunteers have delivered over 118 million vaccinations in total, including 32 million top-up jabs since the booster rollout began in September.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid added: “Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with Covid.
“Following the massive success of the rollout so far, we are now offering over-75s and the most vulnerable a spring booster dose to top up their protection against this virus.
“Please come forward as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.”
