You will be aware that some people are becoming eligible for a Covid Booster vaccination. This will be available to all those in cohorts 1 – 9 of the JCVI guidance which was used for the first phase of the vaccination programme and will be Pfizer unless a patient suffered a previous allergic reaction to the Pfizer jab:
| Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults | |
| All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care work | |
| All those 75 years of age and over | |
| All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals | |
| All those 65 years of age and over | |
| Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group | |
| All those 60 years of age and over | |
| All those 55 years of age and over | |
| All those 50 years of age and over |
This will take place no earlier than six months after the second dose was received. All patients over 50 and at least six months post vaccination are being identified and contacted to come forward and there is no need to contact your GP. The NHS will be in touch when you are eligible.
Patients may be contacted by the National Booking Service and invited to book their booster vaccination at a vaccination site or alternatively they can wait to hear from their GP if they would prefer.
If feasible patients may receive their flu and covid booster vaccinations at the same time but if you are invited for one or the other please don’t wait – come forward to receive the vaccination that you have been offered to ensure maximum protection.
Some patients will be due a third dose as part of their initial vaccination programme particularly those who are immunocompromised. Hospitals and GP Practices are working together to identify those patients that are eligible for a 3rd dose. This will be at least 8 weeks following their 2nd dose and they will then be offered a booster 6 months after the 3rd dose. The Pfizer vaccine is being used for all 3rd doses unless there has been an allergic reaction to it previously. This group of patients is complicated to identify and they will be contacted as soon as possible.
Additional information regarding 12 – 15 vaccinations and number of doses:
You will have seen that as well as all adults, 12 year olds and older are now being offered the vaccination.
- Healthy 12-15 year olds are being vaccinated through school immunisations team and this programme is subject to full consent protocol which is being managed by schools. Healthy 12 to 15 year olds will be offered one dose of the vaccination.
- Twelve to 15 year olds with underlaying health conditions have been offered vaccinations through their GP practice. This group of young people will be offered two doses of the vaccination.
- 16 and 17 year olds can now book through the national vaccination booking service (details above) or by visiting a drop in or walk in centre. This group will be offered one dose of the vaccination