Another 1.6 million to be invited for Covid booster jab to prepare for 'winter like no other'

The next cohort of people eligible for a booster jab will be called forward. Credit: PA

Another 1.6 million people who are now eligible to have their Covid-19 booster vaccine will receive an invite next week as health officials urge people to prepare for a "winter like no other".

Around 9.5 million booster invites have been sent to people in England so far, and more than six million jabs have been delivered in the first six weeks of the rollout, according to NHS England.

More than half of eligible people aged over 50 and over two thirds of people over 80 have received the third dose, the service said.

Those in the next cohort of people eligible for the jab will receive texts from “NHSvaccine” and will include a link to the NHS website, guiding people to their nearest vaccination site.

The number of eligible people for their booster changes daily, as people will only be invited if at least six months have passed since their second dose.

PA Graphics

Who is eligible for a Covid booster vaccine?

  • People aged 50 and over

  • People who live and work in care homes

  • Frontline health and social care workers

  • People aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from Covid

  • People aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from Covid, or who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (e.g. someone who has had a transplant, or is undergoing cancer treatment)

  • People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose

If you are not sure if you, or someone you live with, has a health condition that is considered high risk, the NHS's guidance can help.

A care worker receives their vaccine. Credit: PA

How do you get a booster vaccine?

You will be offered a booster Covid dose at least six months after you had your second jab.

The NHS is inviting most people for their booster jabs but you do not need to wait to be contacted if you are a frontline health or social care worker and can book online and the allocated time has passed since your last dose.

Although you should be contacted about booking a booster, you do not have to wait for this to happen if you are eligible.

The NHS website says: “If you have not been contacted and it’s been six months and one week (190 days) since your second dose, please try to book your appointment using this service.”

Deputy lead of the NHS vaccination programme, Dr Nikki Kanani, said the number of people who have taken up the offer of a third jab is “encouraging” and advised anyone who receives an invite to take up the offer.

Dr Kanani said: “It is encouraging to see that thanks to the efforts of NHS staff, millions of people have received their booster already and just over six weeks in, with over half of eligible over 50s already protected as we head into winter like no other.

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“I’ve recently had my booster at a local pharmacy and with more people becoming eligible every day I would encourage anyone who receives their text or letter invite to book an appointment and get their potentially life-saving top-up jab as soon as they can.

“The vaccine is simple, quick and effective and will help us to give the country maximum protection from the virus.”

Overall, more than 86 million coronavirus doses have been delivered and nine in 10 adults have had their first dose since the rollout began in December 2020.

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