The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced its final recommendations for the Covid vaccine booster programme this autumn.
The recommendations state that those eligible will be: all adults aged 50 years and over; those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women; those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people 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; and frontline health and social care workers.
Instructions on how to book an appointment for the autumn booster will become available in due course, people are asked not to come forward until this information is announced.
Professor Anthony Harnden, Deputy Chair of the JCVI, said:
"We have provided our final recommendations for the autumn programme to ensure the NHS and wider health system has time to plan a vaccine rollout well ahead of the winter season.
"The COVID-19 boosters are highly effective at increasing immunity and, by offering a further dose to those at higher risk of severe illness this autumn, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisations and deaths over the winter."
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said:
"Widening the eligibility for the flu vaccine will help reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease pressures on the NHS, particularly during the busy winter period.
"It is also important that everyone eligible for the COVID-19 booster gets the jab when invited, including pregnant women, who are among those at higher risk. Having COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to complications. Getting the vaccine, including a booster, offers the best possible protection for you and your baby."
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
"I have accepted the independent advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to offer an autumn Covid booster to people aged 50 and over, residents and staff in care homes for older adults, frontline health and social care workers, unpaid carers, individuals aged five to 49 in clinical risk groups and household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed.
"Viruses spread more easily in the colder seasons with people socialising inside, so the risk of getting Covid is higher. It is absolutely vital the most vulnerable groups receive a booster vaccine to strengthen their immunity against serious disease over winter to protect themselves and reduce pressure on the NHS."
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will also be expanding the eligibility for free flu vaccines. Additional groups include all adults aged 50 to 64 and secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9. The additional groups will receive the vaccine after the most vulnerable have been vaccinated - including pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over and those in clinical risk groups.
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