NHS sets out plans for the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme
Frontline health and social care workers, which includes podiatrists, can self-declare and book an appointment on the National Booking Service from 5 September
The NHS will become the first healthcare system in the world to use the next generation, bivalent covid vaccine during the autumn booster rollout which starts on 5 September. The booster campaign is among a package of NHS measures to prepare for winter.
The National Booking Service will open the week commencing 5 September to enable those aged 75 years and over and self-declaring health and social care workers, including podiatrists, to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment from 12 September.
Health and social care staff are eligible to get the autumn booster in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance. In the NHS, to ensure all 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.
The government accepted final JCVI advice which states the following people should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine this autumn:
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
- persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book.
A full copy of the final JCVI advice for COVID-19 boosters can be found here and eligibility for the seasonal influenza immunisation here.
COVID-19 vaccination programme in Scotland
Appointments for winter vaccines in Scotland will be available for booking from 22 August for health and social care staff. All other groups should wait until they are contacted by NHS Scotland before trying to reschedule or book their appointment.