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Who can get a Covid booster this spring and how can you book? Who can get an NHS Covid jab now?
(about 2 months later)
A spring Covid booster is being offered to those most at risk from the virus across the UK. The spring campaign offering an NHS Covid booster jab to the most vulnerable across the UK closed on 30 June.
Some pharmacies have also started selling the jab privately. Many pharmacies have started selling the jab privately.
Who can have a spring Covid booster? Who can get an NHS Covid jab?
Fewer people are entitled to a spring booster than were offered a jab during the autumn 2023 campaign. At the moment almost no one can get an NHS Covid jab.
The eligible groups are: In line with current advice from the government's vaccine advisers, the JCVI and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), someone aged over six months with a weakened immune system would be eligible for a vaccine or booster, if their doctor thought it was clinically necessary.
adults who will be aged 75 years and over by 30 June 2024 No details have yet been released about whether there will be an autumn booster campaign, or who would be eligible.
adults who will be aged 75 years and over by 30 June 2024
people in care homes for older adults
people in care homes for older adults
individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed
individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed
Vaccines will be available at pharmacies, GP practices and some drop-in vaccination centres, external.
How do I book a spring booster?
The NHS is sending texts, emails, NHS App messages or letters to those who are eligible but you do not have to wait for the invite.
Those who qualify can book an appointment via the NHS App, external, the NHS website, external, by calling 119, external, or by visiting a drop-in clinic, external.
Those at highest risk are being invited first.
You will generally be invited to have your booster around six months after your last dose but you can have it after three months.
Spring vaccinations will be available until 30 June.
NHS England: Covid vaccination, externalNHS England: Covid vaccination, external
NHS England: Covid vaccination, externalNHS England: Covid vaccination, external
NHS Scotland: Covid vaccination, externalNHS Scotland: Covid vaccination, external
NHS Scotland: Covid vaccination, externalNHS Scotland: Covid vaccination, external
Public Health Wales: Covid vaccination, externalPublic Health Wales: Covid vaccination, external
Public Health Wales: Covid vaccination, externalPublic Health Wales: Covid vaccination, external
NI Direct: Covid vaccination, externalNI Direct: Covid vaccination, external
NI Direct: Covid vaccination, externalNI Direct: Covid vaccination, external
Which vaccine will people get? Who could get the spring Covid booster?
Fewer people were entitled to an NHS spring booster than were offered a jab during the autumn 2023 campaign.
The eligible groups were:
adults aged 75 years and over at 30 June 2024
adults aged 75 years and over at 30 June 2024
people in care homes for older adults
people in care homes for older adults
individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed
individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed
Those at highest risk were invited first.
The NHS sent texts, emails, NHS App messages or letters to those who were eligible.
Appointments could also be booked directly via the NHS App, external, the NHS website, external, GPs, or local pharmacies, by calling 119, external, or by visiting a drop-in clinic., external
On 20 June, NHS England said more than four million people had received a spring booster jab, external.
Covid jab skipped by 44%, entire UK study finds
Covid jab skipped by 44%, entire UK study finds
Which Covid vaccines are used in the UK?
Vaccines from four different companies are in use across the UK: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sanofi/GSK and Novavax.Vaccines from four different companies are in use across the UK: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sanofi/GSK and Novavax.
Those getting the spring booster in will be given an mRNA vaccine made by either Pfizer or Moderna. Both have been updated to help protect against more recent strains of Covid. The NHS spring booster campaign used mRNA vaccines made by either Pfizer or Moderna. Both have been updated to help protect against more recent strains of Covid.
People are advised to take whichever they are offered, as all provide protection against severe illness or death. People were advised to take whichever they were offered, as all provide protection against severe illness or death.
AstraZeneca has withdrawn its Covid vaccine worldwide because of a "surplus of available updated vaccines" which target new variants of the virus. AstraZeneca withdrew its Covid vaccine worldwide because of the surplus of updated vaccines from its competitors.
The firm asked the European Medicines Authority to withdraw authorisation for the vaccine, external, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied. At the firm's request, in May 2024, the European Medicines Authority withdrew authorisation for the vaccine,, external which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.
Covid vaccine safety - What we knowCovid vaccine safety - What we know
Covid vaccine safety - What we knowCovid vaccine safety - What we know
What if I have not had a Covid jab before?
If you meet the criteria for a booster but have not had either of the first two doses of the vaccine - or a third dose for those with a weakened immune system - the government recommends getting a jab during the 2024 spring campaign, external.
Similarly, if you qualify but missed an earlier booster dose, you can have another jab this spring to catch up.
If you have a severely weakened immune system, your doctor may advise you to have an extra dose three months after the spring booster.
Covid jab skipped by 44%, entire UK study finds
Covid jab skipped by 44%, entire UK study finds
Can I buy a Covid vaccine?Can I buy a Covid vaccine?
A number of high street chemists and private clinics have started selling and administering the Pfizer Covid vaccine directly to the public. A number of High Street chemists and private clinics have started selling and administering the Pfizer Covid vaccine directly to the public.
They range in price from around £45 to £99. The cost varies from about £45 to £99.
You need to be aged 12 or above, and have not had a Covid vaccine in the previous three months. You also need to talk to a health professional to check that it is suitable. You need to be aged 12 or above, and must not have had a Covid vaccine in the previous three months. You also need to talk to a health professional to check that it is suitable.
A protein-based booster vaccine made by Novavax, which works differently to the Pfizer and Moderna jabs, should also be available to buy soon.A protein-based booster vaccine made by Novavax, which works differently to the Pfizer and Moderna jabs, should also be available to buy soon.
Moderna is also hoping to launch a combined flu and Covid vaccine in 2025. Moderna is hoping to launch a combined flu and Covid vaccine in 2025 or 2026, after the jab passed a vital part of final-stage scientific checks in June 2024.
Pfizer and BioNTech are testing a similar two-in-one mRNA vaccine against flu and Covid.
How long after having Covid can I have a jab?How long after having Covid can I have a jab?
If you have Covid, or think you might, NHS advice is to delay vaccination until you feel better, external. If you have Covid, or think you might, NHS advice is to delay vaccination until you feel better., external
It also recommends waiting if you have a high temperature or feel otherwise unwell with any illness.It also recommends waiting if you have a high temperature or feel otherwise unwell with any illness.
But there is no need to wait if you have recently recovered from Covid and feel well.But there is no need to wait if you have recently recovered from Covid and feel well.
The vaccines do not infect people with Covid and cannot cause positive test results. The vaccines do not infect people with Covid, and cannot cause positive test results.
What to do if you have CovidWhat to do if you have Covid
What to do if you have CovidWhat to do if you have Covid
Why Covid is still flooring some peopleWhy Covid is still flooring some people
Why Covid is still flooring some peopleWhy Covid is still flooring some people
What are the side effects of the Covid vaccine?What are the side effects of the Covid vaccine?
For most people, side effects are mild, external. The most common include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.For most people, side effects are mild, external. The most common include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.
They are part of the body's normal immune response to vaccination and tend to resolve within a day or two. They are part of the body's normal immune response to vaccination and tend to resolve themselves within a day or two.
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Why it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccinesWhy it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccines
Why it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccinesWhy it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccines
Very rarely myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle - has been linked to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.Very rarely myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle - has been linked to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
It has also been listed as a rare possible side effect of the Novavax vaccine, after a very small number of cases were reported during clinical trials.It has also been listed as a rare possible side effect of the Novavax vaccine, after a very small number of cases were reported during clinical trials.
There have also been extremely rare, but occasionally fatal,, external cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.There have also been extremely rare, but occasionally fatal,, external cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.
A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction, external after the Pfizer vaccine.A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction, external after the Pfizer vaccine.
Patients with serious allergies should talk to their healthcare professional before being vaccinated.Patients with serious allergies should talk to their healthcare professional before being vaccinated.
German patient vaccinated against Covid 217 timesGerman patient vaccinated against Covid 217 times
German patient vaccinated against Covid 217 timesGerman patient vaccinated against Covid 217 times
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