NHS England will launch its Covid booster program on September 5, officials have said, as the UK prepares to become the first health system in the world to offer a next-generation vaccine targeting both the strain original virus as in the Omicron variant.
More than 26 million people will be eligible for another Covid-19 shot in the coming months, and health officials hope a second national booster program will reduce the risk of coronavirus and flu cases overwhelming already overstretched hospitals this year winter
Steve Russell, national director of vaccines and detection, said: “This winter will be the first time we see the real effects of both Covid and flu in full circulation as we go about our normal lives, so it is vital that most susceptible to serious illness from these viruses are showing up for the last shot to protect themselves.”
The health service is in one of its worst summer crises in decades, particularly in urgent and emergency care, with some elderly patients waiting hours for an ambulance and even longer to be admitted to a hospital ward.
The autumn reinforcement campaign is part of a package of NHS measures to prepare for winter, including increasing bed capacity and 999 and NHS 111 staff numbers to deal with any additional pressure.
Start your day with the top stories from the US, plus the day’s must-reads from across the Guardian
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertisements and content funded by third parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
NHS England said care home residents and people in confinement would be among the first to be vaccinated when the program began on September 5. A larger program would begin on September 12. The other nations of the UK are organizing their own timetables.
The UK is the first country in the world to approve Moderna’s bivalent vaccine, which targets the original strain of Covid and the Omicron variant BA.1, but there are still concerns that there will not be enough doses to offer the new shot to everyone eligible.
NHS England said people would be offered the bivalent vaccine where appropriate and subject to sufficient supply. He said the original vaccines still offered good protection and urged people to take the shot when offered.
As in previous campaigns, the oldest and most vulnerable people would be called first, with the possibility of booking online or through 119, as long as three months have passed since their last dose. Up to 3,000 sites were expected to be part of the scheme, including GP practices and community pharmacies, and new sites may be added.
“The NHS was the first health system in the world to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials, and will now be the first to deliver the new variant vaccine when the rollout begins in early September,” he said. NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard.
He urged anyone invited to get a fall Covid booster and flu shot “to do so as soon as possible – it will give you maximum protection this winter”.
NHS England will offer the flu shot from September 1 and, if eligible, people can have it at the same time as the Covid one.
The national booking service is expected to open during the week of September 5, with people most likely to be seriously ill from Covid-19 and people aged 75 and over to book an appointment from this week .
Health and social workers will also be able to receive the autumn boost. All providers are asked to ensure their staff are offered the autumn jab, potentially along with the flu jab. Everyone over the age of 50 and caregivers over the age of 16 are also among those eligible for the flu shot this winter.