Scaled back Covid booster programme: Who is eligible under the new guidelines?

The vaccine will no longer be available for those aged 50 to 64. Credit: PA

The number of people to be offered the Covid-19 booster jab in the autumn has been scaled back, health officials have announced.

Now, the vaccine will only be offered to those aged 65 and over along with health and care workers and people living with certain health conditions.

This means those aged 50 to 64 will not necessarily be allowed the jab.

Health officials are following advice on the UK booster programmes from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Why are they scaling it back?

Last year, the autumn booster jab was offered to those age 50 and over, but this year the eligibility criteria has been tightened so only those age 65 and over will be offered the jab.

Health officials said that the larger group was offered the booster jab last year as part of the “emergency response” to the pandemic.

But the “success of these programmes has enabled us to live with Covid and, this year, we are able to scale back the number of people who require an autumn booster”, officials said.

Who is eligible for a vaccine on this year's autumn booster programme?

Those eligible include:

  • Adults aged 65 and over

  • Care home residents

  • Those aged six months and older who are deemed to be “clinically at risk” with illnesses including severe asthma, diabetes and a number of chronic illnesses

  • People who are immunosuppressed – either through illness or treatment for cancer – and their household contacts aged 12 and over

  • Those aged over 16 who are carers

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The NHS said it will contact those eligible for a jab in autumn. Credit: PA

Can people who are not eligible for this campaign purchase the jab themselves?

The Covid-19 jab is not available privately in the UK, so those who were offered the vaccine last year and are not eligible this year will not be able to purchase the jab themselves.

But the JCVI said that adults who are yet to receive a Covid vaccine will be eligible to get a single jab during the booster campaign.

What about flu jabs?

Health officials previously announced they would be scaling back eligibility for the flu jab this year.

During the height of the pandemic, over-50s were offered the jab in a bid to reduce co-circulation of flu and Covid and relieve pressure on the NHS.

But now officials have also reverted to the original offer to those aged 65 and over along with those who have certain health conditions.

The committee also advised that the NHS should deliver the Covid-19 booster programme by early December to “optimise protection” over the winter months.

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Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of Covid-19 immunisation on the JCVI, said: “The autumn booster programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill.

“It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up a booster this autumn – helping to prevent them from hospitalisations and deaths arising from the virus over the winter months.”

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he had accepted the JCVI advice for the booster programme in England, adding: “NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the autumn booster vaccine shortly, and I would urge anyone invited – including those yet to have their first jab – to come forward as soon as possible.”

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