Officials have issued a reminder that there is still time for any member of the public to get their Covid jab before the universal vaccination programme closes for the year.
Healthy adults under the age of 50 who are yet to receive a booster jab have just two-and-a-half weeks to take up the offer before they are no longer considered eligible. After this deadline, experts have advised for the universal offer to shift "towards a more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns".
Because of this, only certain groups of people will be given an offer for the first and second jabs during certain times of the year. Currently, anyone aged five or over from August 31, 2022 can receive their primary course vaccinations at walk-in centres or via the NHS' national booking service.
The new targeted programme will focus vaccination offers for: care home residents and workers; frontline health and social care workers; adults over 50; people who are clinically at risk; carers and people who live in a house where someone is immunosuppressed.
However, officials have highlighted that if people are newly deemed to be at clinical risk of Covid infection, they will still be able to receive a vaccination. While no date has been given for the end of the universal programme, it is believed it will happen at some point this year.
It comes as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said the initial booster offer for healthy adults aged 16 to 49 should close as the autumn booster programme comes to an end. In England, the programme is due to end on February 12.
Commenting on the closure of the booster programme, Steve Russell, director of vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: “Over the last two years the NHS Covid vaccination programme has administered almost 145 million doses and as a result, the public have widespread protection from Covid-19 and its variants – a remarkable achievement.
“Following the decision by the Government to accept JCVI advice today, I would encourage anyone who has not yet had their Covid booster to book an appointment in the next couple of weeks and make the most of the offer available. Once the NHS receives updated guidance for the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS staff will make sure the vaccine is as accessible and convenient to those eligible as it has been in each of the previous campaigns.”
The JCVI has highlighted that there will still be need for another round of booster shots for those who are most at risk during the autumn period. It has advised the government to prepare for the next round of jabs later in the year.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid-19 vaccination on the JCVI, said: “The Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to reduce severe disease across the population, while helping to protect the NHS. That is why we have advised planning for further booster vaccines for persons at higher risk of serious illness through an autumn booster programme later this year.
“We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk.”
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