Some 260,000 people in Greater Manchester will soon be able to have their spring booster Covid jab. It comes as cases of coronavirus rise across the UK, with the emergence of a new sub-variant of Omicron - called BA.2 - linked to the increase.
Those who are eligible for the spring booster include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those aged 12 and over who are immunosuppressed, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI).
The NHS says the programme will start with those who have had a bigger gap since their last dose, then will work through the cohort to invite others who have waited less time. It is anticipated that everyone who is eligible will be offered a top up between three and six months over the spring and early summer.
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So, how do you get a spring booster in Greater Manchester - and can you go to a walk-in centre to get yours done?
Those who are eligible for the spring vaccine will receive a letter inviting them to book their appointment. People should wait to hear from the NHS before they book.
It is anticipated that everyone who is eligible will be offered a top up between three and six months over the spring and early summer. But people are advised to wait six months since their previous dose to get maximum protection from a spring booster.
Currently, the spring booster campaign is via appointment only, so eligible people will be invited via letter to book. It is not being offered as a generic walk-in service as with the previous booster programme.
Anita Rolfe, interim director of nursing at Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said: “With Covid-19 continuing to circulate in our communities, we need to make sure that the people who are most vulnerable to serious illness from the virus have the best possible protection.
“A booster dose of the vaccination offers a ‘supercharge’ to the immune system, and gives the body an additional arsenal of weaponry to offer effective protection against serious illness. The vaccine also works to make infection less likely in the first place.”
Since the vaccine rollout began in December 2020, nearly 5.6 million first, second and booster vaccines have been given to Greater Manchester residents. Anita Rolfe added: “The NHS and our partners in Greater Manchester continue to work tirelessly to deliver this life-saving vaccine programme.
“Whether it’s a first vaccine for a younger person or someone who hesitated during the initial rollout, or boosters for older and more vulnerable people, we will keep going to make sure everyone gets what they need. “The vaccine remains the most effective way for us to stay on top of Covid-19, and keep our communities as safe as we can while we go about our daily lives.”
