England’s leading NHS medic is urging those eligible for a spring booster but yet to come forward to take up the offer as soon as possible as a quarter of a million reminders go out before the end of the month.
The largest and fastest vaccination programme in NHS history has now invited everyone eligible for a spring booster and more than four in five people have already had their jab.
The NHS has invited more than five million people in total to get their spring booster in line with JCVI guidance as part of the world-leading NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme and is urging anyone yet to come forward for a spring dose to do so as soon as practically possible.
More than four million people and around 86 percent of those aged 75 and over have already had their spring dose. Those who are eligible include older adult care home residents, people aged 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed.
As Covid-19 infection levels rise, England’s top doctor has warned that those who have yet to act on an invite to get their spring dose should do so as soon as they can in order to protect the most vulnerable.
The NHS has been bringing people’s invites forward and encouraging them to get the spring jab before June. Almost 250,000 reminders will be sent out to those eligible before the end of the month via text message, email or letter.
Getting the jab before the end of June will also mean there will have been enough time between doses ahead of a further autumn dose to extend protection over winter, and against any possible resurgence in infection levels.
The autumn programme will be determined once the JCVI finalise the guidance for the next phase of the NHS programme.
NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “The recent rise in covid infection levels in England acts as a timely reminder that it is crucial those who are eligible come forward for their spring jab and get themselves protected.
“Well over four in five people aged 75 and over have come forward for a spring booster so far and I would urge anyone who hasn’t to get their spring jab as soon as possible.
“The spring dose will not only give you and your loved ones protection this summer amid rising infection levels, but also allow you to get a vaccine this autumn at the right time to maximise your protection over winter. This is particularly important for people who are immunosuppressed”
Despite the huge disruption caused by the covid pandemic, the NHS continues to get on with the elective recovery, cutting the number of people waiting two years by more than two thirds, hitting record levels of people being checked for cancer with 2.6 million people being referred in the year ending March 2022, all while continuing to deliver the largest and fastest vaccine drive in NHS history.
Anyone eligible for a spring booster will still be able to come forward beyond the end of this month, where they will have a discussion with a healthcare professional around the timing of a possible autumn dose, likely to be three months from their last, in order to decide what is best for that individual. The NHS will also continue to offer the vaccine at local sites to those who are newly immunosuppressed.
