Everyone aged over 50 will be offered a Covid booster and flu jab this autumn as health bosses brace themselves for another difficult winter.
Healthcare workers, carers and over-fives who are in a clinical risk group - including pregnant women - will also be offered a booster vaccine.
Those who live with people who have conditions affecting their immune systems will also be eligible for a booster jab.
NHS bosses fear this winter's flu season could be worse than the past two years, and are ploughing resources into preventing respiratory diseases claiming thousands of lives.
The move was announced as latest figures reveal nearly 3.5 million people in private homes were thought to have the virus last week - up from 2.7 million a week earlier.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that one in 19 people had the virus in England last week, while the number was one in 17 in Wales and Northern Ireland, and one in 16 in Scotland.
Earlier this week ONS said Covid had been mentioned on 200,000 death certificates since the start of the pandemic, with a quarter of those fatalities occurring in the past year.
Under today's announcement, those eligible for a further jab in the Autumn will be:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 and over
- Those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
- Those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
Today the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said those eligible for a winter booster jab would be contacted "in due course", and instructed people not to come forward until further details are announced.
It said the move was being taken after analysis identifying those most at risk from the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants, which are sweeping through the country at an alarming rate.
The agency said in a statement: "All eligible groups are encouraged to take up the vaccine when it is offered, even if they have had a spring booster, to give themselves the best possible protection against COVID-19 this winter."
Doses will not be offered to people outside these groups in the upcoming autumn programme.
The list was compiled by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Professor Anthony Harnden, Deputy Chair of the JCVI, said: “We have provided our final recommendations for the autumn programme to ensure the NHS and wider health system has time to plan a vaccine rollout well ahead of the winter season.
“The COVID-19 boosters are highly effective at increasing immunity and, by offering a further dose to those at higher risk of severe illness this autumn, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisations and deaths over the winter.”
Meanwhile concerns about respiratory illnesses have prompted the Department of Health to offer free flu vaccines to additional groups.
They will be eligible once those classified as most vulnerable - including pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over and those in clinical risk groups - have been offered the jab.
The additional groups set to be offered the free flu vaccine in England will be:
- All adults aged 50 to 64 years
- Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first)
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Our vaccination programme has been one of the fastest and most successful in the world.
"Because of our collective efforts, from our NHS who got those jabs in arms, to everyone who came forward to keep themselves and those around them safe, we were able to open up our country while protecting lives and livelihoods.
"Today we have confirmed the next phase in our booster programme to keep our defences strong over autumn and winter. Vaccines were our way out of this pandemic, and now they will make sure covid can never haunt us in the same way again.”
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “Widening the eligibility for the flu vaccine will help reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease pressures on the NHS, particularly during the busy winter period.
“It is also important that everyone eligible for the COVID-19 booster gets the jab when invited, including pregnant women, who are among those at higher risk.
"Having COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to complications. Getting the vaccine, including a booster, offers the best possible protection for you and your baby.”
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Viruses spread more easily in the colder seasons with people socialising inside, so the risk of getting Covid is higher. It is absolutely vital the most vulnerable groups receive a booster vaccine to strengthen their immunity against serious disease over winter to protect themselves and reduce pressure on the NHS.
“The flu virus could also be highly infectious at this time of year, so today I am also announcing that those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year will include everyone aged 50 and over, primary school children and secondary school pupils in years 7, 8 and 9, as well as people in clinical risk groups, unpaid carers and household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed.
“If you or your child are eligible for a Covid or flu vaccine, I urge you to come forward as soon as you are invited by the NHS.”
