This year’s autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes are starting earlier than planned in England as a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant. The NHS winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.
Residents of older adult care homes and those most at risk including those who are immunosuppressed and housebound older adults will receive their covid vaccine first and this starts from today. Eligible people are urged to come forward for their jab as soon as they’re invited.
From 18 September the NHS will start to invite people in priority order of risk and those eligible will be able to book an appointment through the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/ , the NHS App or by calling 119.
Those eligible for a covid booster this autumn are:
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- People aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
- Frontline health and social care workers
- People aged 12 to 64 who are household contacts of people with weakened immune systems
- People aged 16 to 64 who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults
In autumn 2022, all over-50s were offered an extra dose, but the government’s advisers on vaccines recommended that only over-65s should automatically be included this year.
If you are also eligible for a Flu jab you may be offered it at the same time
