COVID-19 booster and flu jabs for over 50’s this autumn 2022

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published its recommendations for this autumn’s programme, with the following groups eligible for a further dose of COVID-19 vaccine:

• all adults aged 50 years and over
• those aged 5 to 49 years who are in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women, or who live with someone with immunosuppression
• those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers

In addition, the free flu vaccine will also be available to more eligible groups than before. This will happen once the most vulnerable, including pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over, and those in clinical risk groups, have been offered the jab. The additional groups to be offered the free flu vaccine in England will be:

• all adults aged 50 to 64 years
• secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first)

The NHS will announce in due course when and how eligible groups will be able to book for these vaccines. People are asked not to come forward until further information is announced.