NHS delivers two million spring boosters in England

The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has vaccinated more than two million of the most at-risk people in England with a spring covid jab since the programme launched last month.

As of Thursday 4 May, the NHS has vaccinated 2.04 million people during this booster campaign.

More than 153,000 care home residents – representing over half of all those eligible – were initially vaccinated in just three weeks (from 3  April). Everyone else has been vaccinated since the programme formally launched on 17 April, just over two weeks ago.

Around 6.6 million are eligible in with advice from the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which includes over 75s, people aged five and over with weakened immune systems and care home residents.

The NHS – now in its 75th year – has administered more than 146 million covid jabs over several vaccination campaigns since Maggie Keenan became the first in the world outside of a clinical trial to receive the vaccination in December 2020.

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, Steve Russell, said: “NHS staff and volunteers continue to work flat out to offer protection to the most vulnerable and have now delivered more than two million spring covid jabs, less than three weeks since the campaign formally launched.

“Hundreds of thousands of people continue to get vital protection from covid everyday – if you are eligible but yet to come forward, please join the millions of others and book your spring booster as soon as possible.”

This latest vaccination, is being offered to those considered most at risk, following advice from the JCVI.

Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose. Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine but does not get invited can check online. Alternatively, they can self-declare via the National Booking Service and then speak to a clinician on site.

The last spring vaccination appointments will be offered on 30 June.

Covid-19 vaccinations for everyone who was aged 5 on or before 31 August 2022 will also end after that date, following recent advice from the JCVI. After 30 June, the NHS offer will become more targeted to those at increased risk, usually during seasonal campaigns.

There are more than 2,500 sites across England, with the majority of appointments being delivered in communities by pharmacies and GPs.