NHS England has announced that coronavirus booster jabs have been delivered or booked in at almost nine in 10 care homes.

Approximately 6,000 care homes have already been visited while a further 3,700 homes have visits scheduled within the coming days and weeks, as part of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme. The new figures also show that residents in over half of care homes have received a booster jab.

With almost 90 per cent of homes either visited or with visits booked, local GP teams are working to make sure that the remaining care homes can book their vaccine clinic as soon as possible.

More than four million eligible people have had their top up vaccine since the campaign began just over four weeks ago. Every care home is expected to have offered a Covid-19 booster to all eligible residents by the beginning of November.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS vaccination programme, said: “NHS staff are working flat out to vaccinate eligible groups ahead of winter – it is testament to them that just four weeks after we kicked off the booster rollout that we have already provided well over four million boosters to eligible people.

“Not only that but local general practice teams are going out to protect the most vulnerable – almost 90 per cent of care homes have either already been visited or have a visit booked in for the coming days and weeks. The booster is not simply a nice to have – it will provide important extra protection as we go into the winter period. So if you have been invited or a family or friend has been invited – please do come forward.”