News

Nurses can get COVID-19 autumn booster jab from this week

With a surge in COVID and flu infections predicted this winter, everyone is urged to get booster now being offered to all front-line health and social care staff
Picture shows a female nurse receiving the COVID-19 booster vaccination

With a surge in COVID and flu infections predicted this winter, everyone is urged to get booster now being offered to all front-line health and social care staff

Picture shows a female nurse receiving the COVID-19 booster vaccination
Picture: Alamy

Nurses and other healthcare staff in England can get their autumn COVID-19 booster jab from this week.

From Wednesday around seven million people, including front-line health and care workers and those who work in care homes, will be able to book their jab.

The autumn booster programme began on Monday with more than 700 care homes in England visited by vaccination teams.

While COVID-19 infections in England are continuing to fall, NHS England is predicting a surge in COVID and flu infections over the coming winter and is urging everyone eligible to get their jab.

The latest official advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is that booster jabs will help protect the most vulnerable from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 this winter.

Vaccination is best way to protect yourself from serious illness this winter, says NHS England

The vaccination will be offered to all front-line health and social care workers, including all staff working in care homes for older adults. Adults aged over 50, people aged five to 49 with underlying healthcare conditions, and household contacts of people with weakened immune systems will also be offered the jab.

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: ‘NHS staff have been working incredibly hard to prepare for the latest phase of the COVID vaccine roll-out – the biggest and fastest in our 74-year history – with a record number of sites in local communities set to offer vaccinations to millions of people.

‘When the booking service opens on Wednesday, don’t delay – the best way to protect yourself from serious illness this winter is to get the vaccine when invited to do so, as well as your annual flu jab if eligible.’

Two vaccines have been approved that can be used as boosters this autumn and winter – one from Moderna and the other from Pfizer. Both have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to target both the original and Omicron strains of the virus.

In Scotland, care home residents are among those being offered the jab, while Wales has already started its programme and Northern Ireland will commence roll-out later this month.

Booster jabs can be booked online or by calling 119.


In other news

Jobs