England care home residents first on spring Covid-19 booster campaign

Online appointments to be available from April 5 and about 5 million people are eligible

Care home residents are the first to receive Covid-19 vaccine booster shots, as the spring booster campaign gets under way in England. Around five million people eligible for a booster up until the end of June. PAShow less

The spring Covid-19 booster dose campaign will commence next week in England, with care home residents to be the first to receive the vaccine.

About five million people are eligible for the booster shot, including those aged 75 and above, and anyone aged five and over with a weakened immune system.

Those who are not care home residents will be able to book their appointment online from April 5, with the first appointments available from the week starting April 17.

Millions of people will be sent their initial invitations through the NHS app, with text messages and letters sent to those without the app or those who are not regularly using it.

Steve Russell, the NHS director of vaccinations and screening, has urged those who are eligible for the booster shot to come forward as soon as possible to book a Covid vaccine. It is still vital for those who are most at risk to boost their protection against the virus in the coming weeks, he said.

“There are still around 8,000 people in hospital with Covid, according to the latest data, and the NHS has now treated more than one million Covid inpatients since the pandemic began”.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has also encouraged those who are 75 and above, or who have a weakened immune system, to book their booster shot as soon as possible.

“It’s quick and easy and will give the protection you need for the months ahead”, Mr Barclay said.

The NHS app will be used to send initial invitations, while text messages and letters will be sent to those without the app or who are not regularly using it. PA

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation earlier this year recommended that the spring booster campaign can include vaccination with Pfizer, Moderna, and Sanofi/GSK jabs.

The Novavax vaccine will only be available when other options are not considered clinically suitable.

Those below the age of 12 will be offered a children's formulation of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine that people will receive will depend on local supply.

The offer for anyone to get their first Covid jab will expire on June 30, with future seasonal campaigns expected to be more targeted.