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| Over-50s set to be invited for Covid booster and flu jab in England | Over-50s set to be invited for Covid booster and flu jab in England |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| An extra 12 million people in England will be able to book their winter jabs from Friday. | An extra 12 million people in England will be able to book their winter jabs from Friday. |
| From Friday, everyone in England aged 50 or over will be able to book their Covid booster and flu jab. | From Friday, everyone in England aged 50 or over will be able to book their Covid booster and flu jab. |
| It comes after last week's warnings that Covid cases are rising and that people should avoid vulnerable friends, colleagues and relatives if they feel unwell. | It comes after last week's warnings that Covid cases are rising and that people should avoid vulnerable friends, colleagues and relatives if they feel unwell. |
| Over-50s in Wales and Northern Ireland are already eligible for both jabs. | Over-50s in Wales and Northern Ireland are already eligible for both jabs. |
| The Scottish government says that it will begin inviting 50 to 64-year-olds soon. | The Scottish government says that it will begin inviting 50 to 64-year-olds soon. |
| Who can get their Covid booster? | Who can get their Covid booster? |
| It was announced in August that 26 million people in England would be eligible for an autumn Covid booster. | It was announced in August that 26 million people in England would be eligible for an autumn Covid booster. |
| But not everyone could book their free vaccination immediately. Up until now, the list of eligible people included: | But not everyone could book their free vaccination immediately. Up until now, the list of eligible people included: |
| people aged 65 or over | |
| frontline health and social care staff | frontline health and social care staff |
| carers | carers |
| anyone who is pregnant | anyone who is pregnant |
| people with health conditions that put them at a higher risk | people with health conditions that put them at a higher risk |
| household contacts of people with weakened immune systems | household contacts of people with weakened immune systems |
| But now the final cohort in the group, people aged between 50 and 64, are being encouraged to get their jabs. | But now the final cohort in the group, people aged between 50 and 64, are being encouraged to get their jabs. |
| This is estimated to be about 12 million people. | This is estimated to be about 12 million people. |
| The majority of these will be offered the newer bivalent vaccine which targets the original Covid-19 variant and the newer Omicron one. | The majority of these will be offered the newer bivalent vaccine which targets the original Covid-19 variant and the newer Omicron one. |
| But experts stress both the current and bivalent vaccines provide good protection from severe illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19. | But experts stress both the current and bivalent vaccines provide good protection from severe illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19. |
| Who can get a free flu jab? | Who can get a free flu jab? |
| It is a similar group to the Covid vaccine, but it does not include all carers. | |
| But all primary and some secondary school children as well as two to three-year-olds are eligible for a free flu vaccine, and they are already receiving it. | But all primary and some secondary school children as well as two to three-year-olds are eligible for a free flu vaccine, and they are already receiving it. |
| In total, about 33 million people in England are eligible this year. | In total, about 33 million people in England are eligible this year. |
| How do you book your Covid booster and flu jab? | How do you book your Covid booster and flu jab? |
| The Covid-19 vaccination can be booked online, or by phoning your GP or a pharmacy. | The Covid-19 vaccination can be booked online, or by phoning your GP or a pharmacy. |
| Over-50s will be able to book an appointment from Friday, with the first Covid slots available from Saturday, and flu ones from Monday. | Over-50s will be able to book an appointment from Friday, with the first Covid slots available from Saturday, and flu ones from Monday. |
| Previously, the flu vaccine could only be booked over the phone or by going to a pharmacy which offered walk-in appointments. | Previously, the flu vaccine could only be booked over the phone or by going to a pharmacy which offered walk-in appointments. |
| But now more than 200 places - mostly local pharmacies - will be taking part in a trial which means some people can book their flu jabs online. | But now more than 200 places - mostly local pharmacies - will be taking part in a trial which means some people can book their flu jabs online. |
| If you want to have both jabs at the same time, NHS England says you can ask during your first appointment, although it may not be possible. | If you want to have both jabs at the same time, NHS England says you can ask during your first appointment, although it may not be possible. |
| But if you are successful, then you would need to cancel your second appointment. | But if you are successful, then you would need to cancel your second appointment. |