New Covid-19 booster programme launched for autumn
The JCVI* has announced a list of people who will be eligible for a Covid-19 booster vaccine this autumn. The list includes the following groups:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 Chapter (Green Book)
- Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.
People with epilepsy are not automatically eligible for the booster vaccine, unless they are in one of the groups above.
They are not included as part of the clinical risk group unless they have respiratory difficulties due a chronic neurological condition such as epilepsy. Only those who meet this criteria will be offered the vaccine as part of its third autumn season. This is because they are at a greater risk of serious disease and are therefore likely to benefit from the vaccine.
If you have questions about your own eligibility, you should always contact your GP.
Covid-19 circulating again
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, said:
“The COVID-19 virus has not gone away and we expect to see it circulating more widely over the winter months with the numbers of people getting ill increasing.
“The booster is being offered to those at higher risk of severe illness and by taking up the booster vaccine this autumn, you will increase your protection ahead of winter, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak.”
* Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation