Nearly four in five of those aged 75+ who became eligible at the end of March for COVID-19 booster have taken up the vaccine, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The top-up jab is offered to all over-75s, those aged 12 and over who are immunosuppressed and residents in care homes for older people around 6 months after their last dose. Up to 8 May, 79.2% of all those aged 75 and over who were eligible at the end of March had taken up the vaccine.
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‘The Spring booster offers additional protection to those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19,’ said UKHSA Chief Executive Dr Jenny Harries.
‘Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent falling seriously ill, so these latest uptake figures are very encouraging. We know the virus is still circulating so I would urge anyone who is eligible to come forward for their booster if they have not already done so.’
Spring booster jab appointments can be booked quickly on the NHS website or by phoning 119 for those who cannot get online. People will be invited by the NHS to book an appointment around 6 months after their previous dose.
‘This latest data shows that the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has vaccinated 4 in 5 of eligible over 75s with a Spring booster, with more than 1.3 million coming forward in under 2 months for additional protection thanks to NHS staff continuing to work at speed to roll these fourth doses out,’ said Deputy Lead for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme and Chief GP, Dr Nikki Kanani.
‘We know that millions of other eligible people have also had their Spring booster, either because they are immunosuppressed or live in a care home, and I would encourage anyone receiving invites in the coming days and weeks, or yet to act on theirs, to come forward and book in to get what is a proven, significant increase in protection from COVID-19.’