The NHS has urged over 65s and vulnerable people to get their autumn Covid-19 booster vaccination ahead of winter.
The booster was launched a month ago and has already been delivered to 5.5 million people. However, a total of 6.6 million vulnerable people are being reminded to book their booster as soon as possible.
NHS medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said that ‘the threat of a Covid-19 and flu season creating a “twindemic” this winter is real’.
How to book your autumn covid booster
If you are at risk, you are able to self-declare and do not need to wait for an invite. You can attend a walk-in site or book online on the NHS website at one of over three thousand sites. If you need help booking an appointment, you can call 119.
Professor Sir Powis said: ‘Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers we have already delivered more than five million doses in four weeks with hundreds of thousands of people booking their vaccine every day, but we know that there are still millions of people who have yet to take up the offer.’
He urged people to come forward for the booster as the vaccine ‘remains the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from covid this winter.’
How many people are eligible for the booster?
Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for the latest autumn booster, according to the NHS.
Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screenings, said that the five million boosters delivered show ‘fantastic progress’ and pay testament to the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers. However, Russell said that there are ‘millions’ more people eligible for the ‘life-saving dose’ who are still to come forward.
Since the vaccine was first introduced, more than 127 million vaccines have been administered.
People who are currently eligible for the booster are those 65 and over, pregnant women, and frontline health and care workers. Almost a third of people with suppressed immune systems have had an autumn booster, and the remaining people have been advised to get theirs as soon as possible if it has been 91 days since their last dose.
