Millions of people are eligible for the spring Covid-19 booster vaccination from Monday as hundreds of thousands of vaccination appointments can be booked through the NHS.
In total, around five million people are eligible for booster shots by the end of June, with the first shots to be given in 3,000 locations in England from Monday. People aged 75 and over, and those aged five and over with compromised immune systems, are eligible, in addition to the nursing home immunization program that began two weeks ago.
Wales began offering advanced training meetings from Saturday 1 April and Scotland opened meetings from Tuesday 11 April. The Northern Ireland booking engine is now open and all campaigns will run until Friday 30 June.
How to order a booster?
Over 725,000 Covid vaccine boosters are still available this week, with over 320,000 appointments already booked through the NHS Covid-19 vaccination scheme.
The NHS has sent out 1.25 million invitations through the NHS app for direct appointments.
This week, one million more people will be asked to make an appointment for a vaccination if they haven’t already.
SMS, email and letters are also sent to those who do not use or do not actively use the application.
Those who think they are a good fit but have not yet received an invitation can do so themselves through the National Reservations Service and then speak with a local doctor.
How many people are sick with Covid-19?
Covid-19 hospitalizations remain highest among those over 75, with currently 34.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people aged 75-84 and 74.5 per 100,000 among those aged 85 and over.
Rates have declined in recent weeks but are still much higher than other age groups.
NHS director of vaccination and screening Steve Russell said: “The Covid vaccine continues to play a critical role in protecting those most at risk of serious illness against the virus, including those with weakened immune systems and all people aged 75 and over.
“It’s great to see that about 320,000 people have signed up to get vaccinated this week alone, with close to hundreds of thousands of extra places available across the country. Nearly 145 million doses of vaccine have been delivered through the NHS Covid-19 vaccination program since December 2020, and staff will continue their efforts to offer people additional protection.
“I urge everyone who is eligible for this extra protection to get their spring Covid vaccinations as soon as possible and be calm this summer.”
When should you book?
Invitees should ensure that their appointment is scheduled at least three months after the last dose. Final spring vaccination dates will be announced on June 30, with more targeted seasonal campaigns likely to take place in the future. In accordance with the recent recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunizations (JCVI), Covid-19 vaccination for all persons aged five years on or before 31 August 2022 will also be discontinued after that date.
This year, the JCVI stated that the spring booster campaign could include Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi/GSK vaccines. Novavax injectable is only available in cases where alternatives are not considered clinically appropriate. The pediatric form of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is offered to children under 12 years of age.
The vaccine people get depends on local supplies.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.