NHS To Roll Out COVID-19 Booster Jabs From September

Following updated advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the NHS has now set out plans for the next phase of the vaccination programme, starting during the week of 5 September. NHS staff will begin with care home residents, those who are most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 and those aged 75 and over, before opening the offer up to the remaining eligible groups. 

The National Booking Service will open ahead of the wider rollout, due to start on the 12 September, and the NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in. 

As with previous campaigns, the oldest and most vulnerable will be called forward first, with people able to book in online or through 119 for as long as it has been three months since their last dose. 

The NHS will continue to advise local sites to allow immunosuppressed patients to self-declare and attend walk-ins to make getting the extra protection as easy as possible. 

More than 263 sites are expected to be part of the East Midlands rollout, including GP practices and community pharmacies, with new sites joining the programme all of the time. 

The autumn booster campaign is among a package of NHS measures to prepare for winter, including ramping up bed capacity and increasing the number of 999 and NHS 111 staff to deal with any additional pressure. 

The JCVI and MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency) have stressed that the original vaccines also continue to provide great protection and people should come forward regardless of vaccine offered. 

NHS director for vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said:

..."This winter will be the first time we see the real effects of both covid and flu in full circulation as we go about life as normal - and so it is vital that those most susceptible to serious illness from these viruses come forward for the latest jab in order to protect themselves. The NHS will contact you when it is your turn to get an autumn booster and will be inviting the first people outside of a care home to book in ahead of the rollout early September - please book in as quickly as possible when invited to give yourself protection this winter."

The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine - you do not need to contact the NHS. 

The NHS will also being rolling out the flu vaccine and encouraging eligible people to take up the offer from the first of the month where possible. Eligible individuals may be offered the flu and covid jab at the same time, with the doses approved to be co-administered. 

Health and social care staff will also be eligible to get the autumn booster in line with JCVI guidance and in order to ensure NHS staff are protected, all providers are being asked to ensure their staff are offered the autumn jab, co-administering with the flu jab where possible.